Victoria Police Public Order Response Team

The Public Order Response Team (PORT) is part of the Victorian Police Operations Response Unit (ORU).

The Public Order Response Team (PORT) is the full-time public order and riot response team for Victoria Police.

Overview
The Public Order Response Team (PORT) is a full-time highly visible public order and riot response team, it was formed in June 2011. Members are highly trained to deal with public order related situations across the state. Members undergo an intensive training program where they are taught skills relative to the management and control of public order issues. Members are recognised by their professionalism and by their highly visible vehicles. The team comprises 65 trained members and works out of the Melbourne CBD.

PORT is a full-time re-invention of the now defunct Public Order Management teams (POM) which was previously made of officers with riot and public order training from around the state and used on an 'as needed' basis (part-time).

PORT’s core function is to respond to demonstrations and public order incidents, such as out of control parties within metropolitan Melbourne.

Equipment
PORT is issued with a range of specialist crowd control and riot equipment including long shields, short shields and round shields. The team drives highly visible ‘Public Order Response’ Ford Territories that allow rapid deployment to metropolitan and country locations at short notice.

Roles
The Public Order Response Team specialises in:


 * Crowd control
 * Riot response and control
 * Search Warrants
 * Alcohol related anti-social behavior
 * Liquor Licensing enforcement
 * Out of control parties and brawls.
 * Assisting other police units where a large coordinated response is required at short notice

PORTs roles include's: attending large public demonstrations; protests and industrial disputes; assisting with search warrants; and situations that require a highly visible police presence.

PORT has previously been involved in the removal of Occupy Melbourne from City Square, The GROCON Dispute and the East West Link Tunnel Protests. PORT regularly deploys large numbers of officers to A-League football matches held within Victoria. Each summer PORT is also utilized for Bushfire Response duties as part of Operation Firesetter.

PORT provides core assistance each weekend to Operation Safe Streets 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. The Safe Streets Taskforce is a highly visible police operation conducted in areas with alcohol related public order issues.

Officers from PORT and the ORU have previously been deployed the following emergency situations:
 * Early 2011 Victorian floods
 * 2010–11 Queensland floods
 * 2011 Christchurch earthquake
 * Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011
 * 2011 US President Barack Obama visit to Darwin

In 2013 the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation released a ‘Constable T. Bear’ based on the Public Order Response Team.