National Intervention Unit

The South African Police Service National Intervention Unit (NIU) is part of the special operations element of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The National Intervention Unit is one of the SAPS' elite units. It was established during 2000 to address high-risk operations. The NIU provides operational support for the South African Police Service Special Task Force with counter terrorism and insurgency and hostage rescue.

History
National Intervention Unit can trace its origins to the Reaction Units which were established in the Riot Units in 1979. In 2000 the Division: Operational Response Services decided to standardize Training and Techniques for these units and formed the National High Risk Policing Capability and four Units were established, strategically placed at Pretoria, Durban, Umtata and Cape Town.

These units participate in intelligence-driven operations to combat crime in the service areas of police stations and are responsible for stabilizing tense crime situations when normal policing is insufficient, such as by intervening at incidents of public violence when Public Order Policing (POP) Units can no longer handle the situation.

Their work also includes the combating of serious and violent crime incidents such as cash-in-transit heists, ATM bombings, armed robberies and Urban Terrorism.

Recruitment and training
Prospective members have to be at least 21 years old and must have served at least two years in the South African Police Service. Members applying to join NIU Units must follow the appropriate career paths starting at the Public Order Policing Unit, and then proceed to the Tactical Response Unit before they can join the National Intervention Unit. Members who wish to grow their careers further may then join the South African Police Service Special Task Force (SAPS STF).

All National Intervention applicants are volunteers and have to comply with stringent physical requirements before being admitted to the basic training and selection course. The volunteer must also show certain personal traits such as maturity, leadership skills, and sound judgment.

The basic training course includes weapons, rural and urban combat training courses. Compulsory advanced courses include special skills such as diving, VIP protection, explosives and medical training.

Although membership of the National Intervention Unit is open to both male and female SAPS members, female operatives undergo a separate selection course.

Current
The National Intervention Unit is actively involved in Anti-Rhino Poaching Operations in South Africa and stabilizing Industrial and Mining unrest operations as well as stabilizing Political Violence.