More than 200 police officers with long-arm rifles will form a new armed response command to rapidly respond to hate-related threats in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The new intelligence-led command will patrol high-risk areas, places of worship, large protests and major events.
The armed response command will employ 250 specialist police officers, 28 civilian staff and a fleet of specifically modified rapid-response vehicles.
An officer training with a long arm weapon, which will form part of the equipment of the new command.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. (9News)
Dozens of police officers patrolled Sydney’s eastern suburbs in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack under Operation Shelter.
The task force was originally established in October 2023 to combat an increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the new armed response command would, in effect, make Operation Shelter permanent.
“This will mean police officers who are armed with long arms that can be deployed in situations where there’s a concern about community safety, or there’s a need to ensure that there’s a large police presence,” Minns said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns. (9News)
Police minister Yasmin Catley said the new command would feature “some of the best policing you will see across the globe”.
“We know, unfortunately, that our climate has changed, we know that we have to have a response ready,” Catley said.
“This model is exactly that response that we need to rapidly deploy police to issues happening around our state and around our city at any given time.”
Catley said the police force would employ civilians deeply embedded in multicultural communities to let police know what is happening on the ground.
“These are the people that will assist police in letting us know what’s happening on the ground in any given community,” Catley said.
Police Association president Kevin Morton. (9News)
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the horrific events of Bondi represented a change in the policing environment.
“Today’s announcement of the armed command is about saying we’re here for a permanent, preventative and rapid response for the community,” Lanyon said.
“What we saw on the 14th of December cannot happen again.
“I want the community to feel reassured.
“This command is about saying there will be a 24/7 presence across the metropolitian area with long arms capability.”
Police Association president Kevin Morton said the “first of its kind” in Australia command would benefit police and the community.
“It provides our police with the ability to respond quickly to any threat with the equivalent equipment to stop that threat,” Morton said.
“It also provides our frontline police with the real back-up they need to do their job.
“When it comes to protecting the community, it ensures all communities will be protected and no community will be left behind.”
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