Police tactical unit

Definition

Police tactical units are dedicated units composed of personnel selected and trained in tactical skillsets to carry out the responsibilities of the unit, and in use-of-force policies, including lethal force for counterterrorism. A PTU is equipped with specialized police and military-type equipment. A PTU may have specialized combat assault dogs with personnel trained as dog handlers. PTU personnel may also be trained in crisis negotiation.

A police tactical unit can be part of either a police force under the authority of civilian officials, or a gendarmerie-style force under the authority of civilian officials (interior ministry) or a defence ministry that may have formal military status. Other government agencies, depending on the country, may establish specialized units with comparable taskings, training, and equipment, such as border guard, coast guard, customs, or corrections.

In the United States, police tactical units are known by the generic term SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team; the term originated from the Philadelphia Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1960s. In Australia, the federal government uses the term police tactical group. The European Union uses the term special intervention unit for national counterterrorist PTUs.

Characteristics

Police tactical units have similarities to military special forces units such as organization, selection, training, equipment, and operational methodologies. Police tactical units, similar to military units, are not gender diverse, with female members being rare.

For "certain counter terrorism operations, such as hostage rescue, there is a significant convergence of roles, tactics and force when employed in either an armed conflict or policing role". Aside from counterterrorism, the roles of police and military units differ in that the role of military units can result in the use of the maximum permissible force against enemy combatants while the role of police units is to use only minimal force sufficient to subdue suspected criminals, including negotiation.

Notes

References

References

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2. (2017). "Active Armed Offender Guidelines for Crowded Places". Commonwealth of Australia.
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10. (July 2010). "Convergence: Special Operations Forces and Civilian Law Enforcement". Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) Press.
11. (March 2015). "Women and SWAT: Making Entry into Police Tactical Teams". Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute.
12. (June 2014). "Special Operations Forces Mixed-Gender Elite Teams". Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) Press.
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