Special Emergency Response Team (Queensland)
| Special Emergency Response Team | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1968 - Present |
| Country |
 Australia
|
| Branch | Queensland Police Service |
| Role | Law Enforcement, Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Tactical Law Enforcement |
| Size | 60 full-time officers |
| Part of | Specialist Services Branch |
| Garrison/HQ | Cairns and Brisbane |
| Motto(s) | "Brothers in Arms" |
Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) is the Police Tactical Group of the Queensland Police, Australia. SERT is part of the Specialist Response Branch within the Operations Support Command which incorporates the Explosive Operations Response Team (Bomb Squad) and the Negotiator Coordination Unit. This command was formed in August 2008 removing these units from the Specialist Services Branch. The Specialist Response Branch was born within Operations Support Command.
In mid-1966, Jack Pizzey, then Minister for Education and Police, instructed the Commissioner of Police to form a Police Emergency Squad. Hand picked Queensland officers completed specialised training with the New South Wales Police Forces similarly named unit and became operational in 1968. Initially, the Squad included 33 men, handpicked and trained in tactics to apprehend armed offenders in siege situations, hijacking of aircraft and counter-terrorism.
In 1987, the Emergency Squad was divided into sub-units and renamed the Tactical Response Group (TRG). In 1989 the Tactical Response team, a part of the TRG became a separate unit – the Special Weapons and Operations Squad known as SWOS. In 1992, SWOS was further re-organised into its current form and renamed Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) .
Prior to 1992 the unit was part-time made up of officers drawn from other areas of the Police and performing tactical duties as required. Since 1992 the unit is a full-time dedicated police tactical unit and is now known as the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).
In April 2011, SERT took delivery of their first Lenco BearCat armoured vehicle with the second being provided by the Commonwealth Government in June 2012.
The groups missions is to provide a specialist service to the community and support police operations by the attainment of a high level of expertise and professionalism in resolving incidents which exceed normal police capabilities.
SERT supports negotiators and other police on the scene of high risk incidents, providing a safe environment for negotiations to occur, as well as containing threats and providing emergency tactical intervention as required. The negotiation unit currently consists of 112 part-time and 3 full-time police negotiators with 27 qualified as counter-terrorist negotiators. SERT also provides assistance to other police requiring specialist equipment and skills for low risk operations such as rural drug searches or a specialist roping capability.
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