[10][11] The ORU assumed many of the FRU roles, displaced during the evolution of the CIRT concept, and of which Victoria Police had identified a need for a dedicated large unit from the Black Saturday bushfires.

[12] In June 2011, the ORU established PORT with 42 officers trained in crowd control and riot formations and equipped with specially designed uniforms and highly visible police vehicles.

[19] PORT was involved in the removal of Occupy Melbourne from the City Square in October 2011,[20][21] the Grocon Emporium site CFMEU dispute in August 2012 over three weeks,[22] and the East West Link Tunnel Protests in January 2014.

[26][27] PORT provides core assistance each weekend to Operation Safe Streets in the Melbourne CBD conducted on a Friday and Saturday night.

Their focus is on visiting licensed premises and other popular late night venues and also assist with out of control parties as well as generalised public order policing.

[28] The Safe Streets Taskforce is a highly visible police operation conducted in areas with alcohol related public order issues.

PORT officers are equipped with a PR-24 rigid side handle baton, plastic handcuffs, helmet, light weight body armour and gas masks.