VIC police to get military-style semiautomatic guns to fight terrorism

A NEW proposal will see police given access to powerful long-arm guns for use during high-risk incidents like terror attacks and sieges.

A PLAN designed to combat terrorism and the rapid increase of gun-related crime could see Victorian police armed with military-style semiautomatic rifles.

The proposal would see law enforcement given broader access to powerful long-arm guns for use during high-risk incidents like terror attacks and sieges.

As it currently stands, only members of the Special Operations Group and Critical Incident Response Team have access to semiautomatic weapons and machineguns.

However, in the wake of a number of terror-related incidents in the state last year, which include the Bourke Street rampage and the Flinders Street terror plot, this plan will give general duty police access to the guns if first on scene.

A spokesman for Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton stressed the weapons would not be carried by officers on the street — they will likely be secured in cars under lock and key.

“We regularly review our capabilities to ensure our police have access to the equipment they need,” the spokesman told The Age.

“To enhance our abilities to respond to a major security incident or terrorism attack, we are currently scoping the potential use of a limited allocation of long-arm firearms to better support frontline police.

The move would give general duty police access to the guns if first on scene before special units.

“It’s not intended that police will patrol with rifles as part of their day-to-day duties. Victoria Police wants our members to be approachable. This additional tactical equipment, if we proceed with the project, would be safely stored and available for police to use if such an incident were to occur.”

The move would bring Victoria closer to other states which allow police to use semiautomatic rifles.

For a number of years, Queensland police have been carrying R4 .223 carbines with telescopic sights in their vehicles for general duty police to use if they arrive on the scene before the highly trained Special Emergency Response Team.

Similarly in NSW, specialist officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad were issued military-style semi-assault rifles last December.

Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said he would be happy to see the introduction of long-arm firearms for general duty police because it’s something the union has been calling for over the last decade.

“We have for some time advocated for the provision of long-arm weapons for police to deal with the heightened terror threat, the potential for increased firepower pre or post a terror incident and to provide an adequate regional response capability to armed offender situations until metropolitan resources arrive to assist,” he said.