NSW police launch armed patrol unit with military rifles to guard Sydney public
NSW police launched an Armed Response Command of 200 officers carrying military rifles to patrol Sydney after the Bondi terror attack.
On Sunday, NSW police launched a new special unit armed with military rifles. The unit will patrol Sydney's tourist areas, public spaces, and places of worship.
The Armed Response Command has 200 trained officers and is an Australian first. The unit was promised after the Bondi massacre.
At that attack, police armed with handguns faced shooters with rifles. The Jewish community has welcomed the move as a deterrent.
But experts warn of mission creep and attacks shifting to easier targets. New Zealand armed police after the 2019 Christchurch attack but scrapped the program.
Australian officers already carry handguns and tasers, so this marks a major shift to heavier weapons.
- 200
- Officers in unit
- 14 December
- Bondi attack date
- 1,500
- Long-arm rifles issued by 2019
- Since at least 2017
- Long-arm access date
Why it mattersThis shows how leaders respond to terror attacks. But there's a question: do visible heavy weapons make cities safer, or do attacks just move elsewhere?
AustraliaSydney residents will now see police regularly carrying military rifles in public spaces, changing the visual landscape of policing in Australia's largest city.
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