Hostage Response Group

The Hostage Response Group (HRG) is the tactical and special operations unit of the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services. Across New South Wales Corrective Services facilities have their own Immediate Action Teams (riot and emergency units), and larger 'on-call' Regional Security Units and the K9 units for major disturbances. Hostage Response Group officers are based across the State at various Corrective Services facilities in order to provide immediate specialist assistance during a crisis. There is also an additional on-call response team available to respond to events across the State on a 24 hour basis.

The roles of the Hostage Response Group are similar to that of the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit, that is, to provide specialist tactical support and solutions in high risk operations involving Corrective Services facilities and/or staff. Hostage Response Group officers provide specialist assistance and resources during high risk transfer/transport operations and unplanned events such as hostage and siege situations. Training for these situations is regularly held to world class standards. Major crisis training scenarios are held several times a year at various facilities across the State.

Organisation
The Hostage Response Group consists of a full-time rapid response component and smaller part-time units based in various prisons across the State. The units consist of the following sections:


 * command team,
 * negotiators,
 * intelligence unit
 * tactical response officers

Principal Roles

 * Resolving siege and hostage situations ;
 * Providing a negotiation service in high risk and critical situations ;
 * Escorting and securing dangerous prisoners in high risk situations;
 * Undertaking searches of cells in high risk situations;
 * Armed escort of high risk offenders in custody;
 * Specialist surveillance operations;