It was established in 2000 to address high-risk operations and assist the Special Task Force as it was faced with an increased workload and limited resources.

To stabilise volatile situations by combating serious and violent crimes, the policing of high-risk public violence, rendering specialised operational support to provinces/units/divisions of South Africa.

In 2000, the Division: Operational Response Services decided to standardize training and techniques for these units and formed the National High Risk Policing Capability.

Their work also includes the combating of serious and violent crime incidents such as cash-in-transit heists, ATM bombings,[3] armed robberies and urban terrorism.

[9] Their operational commander at Marikana, Lieutenant Colonel Kaizer Modiba, testified before the Farlam Commission of inquiry into the massacre in which he was shown to have ordered his officers to immediately sweep the nearby hill for more weapons rather than seeing to the injuries of the miners who had just been shot.