Anti-terrorism measures: Police don vests in high alert

NSW officers have been reissued a warning about measures they should take to protect themselves after a heightened terror alert in Victoria.

The siege has ended in casualties and gunfire at the Lindt Cafe at Martin Place, Sydney. Shots have rung out and ambulance crews were rushed in to treat the victims. Generic images of the scene including NSW Police Bomb Squad. Pics Bill Hearne

VICTORIA Police must wear ballistic vests, be armed if they are in uniform and not work alone in a station or on patrol under drastic new anti-terrorism measures starting today.

Premier Mike Baird has been briefed on the heightened alert in Victoria by Commissioner Andrew Scipione and NSW officers have been reissued a warning about measures they should take to protect themselves.

All NSW officers must carry their weapon in public, including Mr Scipione.

An internal email went out to the Victorian force’s 13,000 officers late yesterday notifying them of a raft of safety procedures police will now enforce, including that no police officer is to work alone in a station, that two police must work all patrols and that all police in uniform must wear a ballistic vest and be armed.

The security upgrade came hours after a mock terror operation, Exercise Hermes, was held at Holsworthy Army Base in Sydney’s west.

It also follows revelations Islamic State has up to 30 recruiters actively enlisting young people as potential ­jihadists on Australian soil.

Court documents allege a ringleader of a suspected plot to behead police officers on Anzac Day had been in contact with notorious Islamic State terrorist and former Sydney man Mohamed Elomar seeking help to be smuggled into Syria.

During a police raid of Harun Causevic’s room officers allegedly found a Turkish mobile phone number belonging to Elomar scrawled on an envelope, above the number is Elomar’s alias Abu Hafs Al Australi.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione / Picture: Jonathan Ng

Originally published as Anti-terrorism measures: Police don vests in high alert