Special Emergency Response Team (Queensland)

Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) is the Police Tactical Group of the Queensland Police, Australia. SERT is part of the Specialist Response Branch within the Operations Support Command which incorporates the Explosive Operations Response Team (Bomb Squad) and the Negotiator Coordination Unit. This command was formed in August 2008 removing these units from the Specialist Services Branch. The Specialist Response Branch was born within Operations Support Command.

History
Initially formed in 1975 and originally known as the Emergency Squad, the unit underwent several name changes over the years and up until 1992 was known as the Special Weapons and Operations Squad (SWOS). Prior to 1992 the unit was part-time made up of officers drawn from other areas of the Police and performing tactical duties as required. Since 1992 the unit is a full-time dedicated police tactical unit and is now known as the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).

In April 2011, SERT took delivery of their first Lenco BearCat armoured vehicle with the second being provided by the Commonwealth Government in June 2012.

Mission
The groups missions is to provide a specialist service to the community and support police operations by the attainment of a high level of expertise and professionalism in resolving incidents which exceed normal police capabilities.

SERT supports negotiators and other police on the scene of high risk incidents, providing a safe environment for negotiations to occur, as well as containing threats and providing emergency tactical intervention as required. The negotiation unit currently consists of 112 part-time and 3 full-time police negotiators with 27 qualified as counter-terrorist negotiators. SERT also provides assistance to other police requiring specialist equipment and skills for low risk operations such as rural drug searches or a specialist roping capability.

Selection
To qualify for the selection course Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) hopefuls have to undergo a gruelling fitness regime. They must complete a minimum of 10 chin ups, 35 push ups and 100 sit ups, then run 10 km in under 46 minutes and finally swim 400 metres in under 10 minutes. All this is done without a rest. The three-day selection course is regarded as the most difficult and physically demanding course within the Queensland Police Service (QPS). It tests physical and mental endurance through individual and team tasks, problem solving, sleep deprivation, basic survival skills and by challenging phobias for example heights and closed spaces.

Principal roles
SERTs primary roles include:


 * 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
 * High angle rescue
 * Less lethal tactics deployment
 * Water and Airborne operations and insertion

Similar Australian units

 * 🇦🇺 Australian Defence Force - Tactical Assault Group
 * 🇦🇺 Australian Federal Police - Specialist Response Group
 * New South Wales - Tactical Operations Unit
 * Northern Territory - Territory Response Group
 * South Australia - Special Tasks and Rescue Group
 * Tasmania - Special Operations Group
 * Victoria - Special Operations Group
 * Western Australia - Tactical Response Group

International units

 * SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics)
 * Special Tactics Group within the New Zealand Police