Special police command ARC prepares to go live

IN coming weeks, heavily armed officers, rifles and specialist vehicles may be spotted on the streets as the NSW Police Force’s  Armed Response Command (ARC) prepares to become operational.

ARC is described by NSW Police as a dedicated, highly trained and permanent police unit designed to rapidly respond to serious threats and protect the community, is in training and 24 purpose-built vehicles are being delivered.

Officer training will soon move to realistic environments across Sydney in the next, public phase of training.

“People will start seeing these officers and their vehicles around Sydney as training gets under way. This is about being prepared for the worst and making sure we can keep the community safe,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns.

“We hope these officers are never called on to respond to a major incident. But if one happens, NSW Police are ready.”

ARC will be a high-visibility, intelligence-led unit capable of rapidly responding to emerging threats, patrolling high-risk areas, and providing an increased police presence at places of worship, major events and other locations where it is needed, according to the NSW Government.

Backed by a $94.3 million investment, ARC will make permanent and transition Operation Shelter from a reactive surge operation to a permanent, round-the-clock rapid response unit.

According to the NSW Government, Operation Shelter was first launched in October 2023 in response to heightened community tensions, including an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents.

“The security challenges facing our state have changed, and our policing model needs to change with them,” Mr Minns said.

At full strength, ARC will have 250 officers and 28 civilian staff, meaning that police will no longer be rotated out of Police Area Commands.

Officers will have access to rifles and a fleet of purpose-built vehicles, including BMW X5s and Toyota LandCruisers. The vehicles contain specially designed gun safes to secure rifles. Officers are currently undergoing advanced driver training.

The NSW Police Force has selected the Australian Combat Assault Rifle (ACAR), manufactured by Lithgow Small Arms in NSW, as the most suitable weapon following extensive field and endurance testing.

“ARC will not only provide a policing rapid response, but it will also be a deterrent for those who wish to commit harm, incite hatred or cause fear,” said NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.

A 24/7 specialised Police Operations Centre will support the command including with response, coordination, training, logistics and intelligence.

The Command is informed by global best practice with a senior NSW Police Force delegation travelling to the United Kingdom and Germany in January to study their rapid response models, ultimately informing ARC.

“The new Armed Response Command is based on global best practice,” said Yasmin Catley, Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism.

“Police travelled to Europe to study how other major police forces respond to threats; they’ve taken that on board and will soon be ready to launch an Australian-first rapid response unit.”