Tasmania Police Special Operations Group doubled in size and made full-time

The police squad dubbed the “crook’s worst nightmare” has been doubled in size and made full-time.

The state government has announced a full-time Special Operations Group.

The police squad dubbed the “crook’s worst nightmare” has been doubled in size and made full-time.

The expansion of the Tasmania Police Special Operations Group was announced on Monday by Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Felix Ellis, who said the government had earmarked $8.9m for the squad in the last state budget.

“Criminals and those seeking to do harm in Tasmania stand no chance with our Special Operations Group now operating at full strength with 20 full-time members,” Mr Ellis said.

‘Today’s very exciting, our Special Operations Group in Tasmania Police has now officially gone full time with the recruitment of 10 new full-time members, which brings our capability up to 20.

Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Felix Ellis announce a full-time Special Operations Group.

“These are phenomenal operators, highly skilled, highly trained, and they’re capable of taking on the worst possible jobs that we see in our communities, things like counter terrorism, serious and organised crimes, as well as very difficult events, including sieges, hostage situations and a range of other high risk scenarios.

“They also provide major support to our general duties police officers and a whole range of different jobs, and because we now have this capability full time, ready to roll they’re providing even more support to our frontline Tasmanian police officers around the state.

“It’s an important commitment that we’re making because we know that Tasmanians need to be kept safe, and we need to keep our police safe as well.

“Our Special Operations Group are a crook’s worst nightmare, they’ve got the firepower to deal with anything, and so by making them full time, we’re helping them to keep Tasmanians safe.”

The BearCat used by the Special Operations Group.

Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said there had been an increase in crime in the past couple of years which demanded an increase in capability from Tasmania Police.

“The benefit of having a full-time SOG allows us to deploy to serious incidents in the community in a more timely and a more rapid manner,” he said.

“There are a range of tactical options that are available to our SOG operatives when they arrive on scene.

“They can be deployed to arrest those high-risk violent offenders that do appear in our community from time to time.

“They’re also available to assist our investigators with high risk searches where specialist capability is required and they’re also available for those siege-type situations that the minister has referenced as well.

“So today really is about providing reassurance to the Tasmanian community that Tasmania Police are well prepared and we are ready to respond to any of those serious type incidents that unfortunately do occur within our communities.”