Special Emergency Response Team (Queensland)

Hand picked officers completed specialised training with the New South Wales Police Force similarly named unit and became operational in 1968.

[4] Initially, the Squad included 33 men, handpicked and trained in tactics to apprehend armed offenders in siege situations, hijacking of aircraft and counter-terrorism.

[5][6][3] In addition, a small six man Emergency Squad was located in Townsville to respond to incidents in North Queensland and to act in a holding capacity until the arrival of Brisbane officers.

[4] SWOS was a part-time unit with officers performing normal policing duties, responding to incidents as required and training one day per a fortnight.

[14] The primary unit of SERT is based in Brisbane part of the Specialist Response Branch in the Operations Support Command within Queensland Police Service.

[1][15][2][16] The sub-unit based in Cairns is part of the Far North District in the Northern Region under the operational command of the Specialist Response Branch.

It tests physical and mental endurance through individual and team tasks, problem solving, sleep deprivation, basic survival skills and by challenging phobias for example heights and closed spaces.

[26][27] In March 2017, the QPS received a third Lenco vehicle, a Bombcat, similar to the BearCat, but modified to transport a bomb disposal robot, for the Explosive Ordnance Response Team.

[32][33][34] The success of the trial has resulted in the MRC becoming embedded in the PSRT capability, primarily servicing Brisbane Metropolitan, Logan, and Ipswich Districts.

[35] MRC officers have a range of specialised equipment including helmets and ballistics shields, and are issued with Remington R4 and SIG Sauer SIGM400 rifles, and have a range of less-than-lethal options, including the Penn Arms 40mm grenade launcher, Remington 870 loaded with bean bag rounds and pepper-ball gun.