Special Tactics Group
| Special Tactics Group | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1964 – present |
| Country |
 New Zealand |
| Branch | New Zealand Police |
| Role | Law Enforcement, Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Tactical Law Enforcement |
| Part of | Under control of the New Zealand Police |
| Nickname(s) | STG |
| Colors | Green berets (As ATS) |
| Engagements |
Aramoana massacre 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raids 2009 Napier shootings 2012 Megaupload arrests |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Inspector Steve Mather |
The Special Tactics Group (STG), formerly known as the Anti-Terrorist Squad, is the full-time tactical and counter-terrorism group of the New Zealand Police.
The STG is civilian-police SWAT-type unit established to respond to high-risk situations which are beyond the scope or capacity of everyday policing. STG officers directly support operational police in incidents, such as sieges, with specialist tactical, negotiation, intelligence and command support services.
The Anti-Terrorist Squad was a part-time unit raised in the 1960s to deal with high risk situations involving armed offenders and possible terrorism related events. Commissioner of Police John Jamieson sent the group in response to the Aramoana massacre in 1990. They located gunman David Gray and ended his spree. Group member Stephen Vaughan was shot in the ankle during the final shoot-out.
The squad was renamed the Special Tactics Group in 1992, and became a full-time group in 2002 due to changes made by the New Zealand Police in response to worldwide terrorism-related events. The STG was involved in the 2009 Napier shootings alongside their colleagues in the Armed Offenders Squad.
Officers are assigned to the STG on a full-time basis with sections based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The STG deals with armed incidents that are beyond the capability of the part-time Armed Offenders Squad, of which they are also members. While the Armed Offenders Squad is trained to cordon or contain high risk situations such as sieges, the Special Tactics Group is trained to resolve them. The group also provides specialist protection to high risk persons and VIPs. The STG is supported during its operations by the Armed Offenders Squad, negotiation teams and canine units trained for use in situations involving firearms.
The group is known to train with New Zealand Special Air Service of which little public information is released as well as with Australian Police tactical groups.
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Wikipedia