Heavily armed NSW Police unit begins patrols
Human rights advocates and political opponents are warning that the NSW Police unit now patrolling Sydney hotspots with military-style rifles could lead to over policing and intimidation.
Authorities from the NSW government, and NSW Police have argued the Armed Response Command will deter crime, increase community safety, and increase police capacity to respond rapidly to serious threats.
The command includes 250 “carefully selected officers” who have undergone six months of specialist training, according to a statement from late October, and will be carrying Australian Combat Assault Rifles.
However, the unit has sparked concerns from human rights advocates, including Amnesty International Australia, which says it has “serious concerns about the increasing militarisation of policing”.
Learn more about the Armed Response Command here: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/nsw-police-now-carry-military-rifles-to-deter-threats-is-it-safety-or-intimidation/oyju6ni7s
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