Victoria Police Special Operations Group

The Special Operations Group (SOG) is the police tactical group of the Victoria Police.

History
The Special Operations Group was formed in October 1977. Its main function was to provide a response to politically motivated and criminal terrorist activity. Today, this remains the number one priority for the Special Operations Group. The SOG is the Victoria Police equivalent of a full-time tactical (SWAT) team. Victorian SOG officers assisted the Tasmanian Special Operations Group during the infamous Port Arthur massacre in 1996. SOG are currently equipped with an armoured vehicle known as the 'Armet Balkan Mk7 tactical response vehicle' for responding to potential terrorist threats or armed sieges. SOG took delivery of this vehicle in 2009 to replace their previous ageing armoured Land Rover. The previous armoured Land Rover was initially acquired in 1995 and is still in use with the critical incident response teams.

In April 2013 SOG took delivery of a Lenco BearCat armoured rescue vehicle provided by the Federal Government bringing Victoria in-line with other States and Territories who already have Bearcats.

Mission
The SOG responds to unplanned operational critical incidents such as sieges and siege hostage situations, armed offender tasks and bomb response incidents. They also assist operational police in planned operations involving apprehension of dangerous suspects.

Principal roles

 * Protecting endangered witnesses
 * Resolving siege and hostage situations, as well as armed offender situations
 * Providing a negotiation service in high risk and critical situations
 * Undertaking searches of premises in high risk situations
 * The arrest of armed and dangerous offenders
 * Escorting and securing dangerous prisoners in high risk situations
 * Providing support services for major operations
 * Escorting and protecting VIPs and other at risk or important persons
 * Bomb disposal operations

The SOG also provides specialist assistance in performing tasks which are beyond the scope of operational police. Some of these tasks may require specialist equipment or expertise in certain areas. An example of such assistance can be seen recently with the SOGs attendance to assist detectives at a shooting involving Macchour Chaouk.

Equipment
The SOG use a variety of specialised weapons and equipment including variants of the M4 Carbine replacing previously issued F88 Austeyr. Heckler & Koch USP sidearm also chambered in .45 S&W calibre.

Unofficial name
SOG have several unofficial nicknames within the police including "Soggies" and "Sons of God", the latter a backronym made from the initials SOG.

Similar Australian units

 * Australian Defence Force - tactical assault group

International units

 * SWAT (special weapons and tactics)
 * List of special response units

Related articles

 * National Anti Terrorism Exercise (NATEX)
 * Counter-terrorism