Police training at city locations this week
Police training at city locations this week
Police are reassuring Christchurch residents not to be
alarmed if they see
specialist armed units practising in
the city this week.
The New Zealand Police national
Special Tactics Group will be training in
residential
red zone areas and industrial locations in Christchurch
during
the week.
Residents in the area and
surrounding communities are being advised that the
training exercises will include the use of explosives
and firearms.
The exercises are part of a national
training camp which runs from today
[Monday 12 August]
to Friday [16 August] and also includes exercises at
industrial sites in Harewood and Hornby, as well as the
Police Range in
McLeans Island.
Special Tactics Group
Commander Inspector Steve Mather says the training will
focus on hostage rescue operations by making forced
entry into a range of
domestic housing and commercial
buildings.
"It is critical that the STG continue to train
and develop their skills
around the various methods of
tactical forced entry," he says.
"The large number of
vacant, modern construction buildings available in
Christchurch following the earthquakes provides a unique
training
opportunity.
"Many of the residents who
remain in residential red zone areas have in the
past
expressed appreciation that the continued police presence in
the area is
valuable for their security.
"However we
are also extremely mindful that this type of training has
the
potential to alarm residents, and we are making
every possible effort to
notify the wider community of
this activity."
Inspector Mather says Police have
conducted an extensive mail-drop in areas
near the
training sites to inform residents about the exercises.
"The few residents and businesses that remain close to
the venues have been
personally visited by Police staff
and the exercise parameters explained.
"We have also
notified schools and pre-schools in areas close to the
training
locations.
"At each site, marked Police
vehicles will be deployed as cordons where
required.
Police Exercise signage will be erected and safety officers
deployed in hi-visibility jackets.
"To further limit
possible disruptions the training will only occur between
9am and 8pm each day."
Inspector Mather says the
training will use a wide range of the tactical
options
available to the Police, from manual breaching tools like
sledgehammers, powered cutting tools and chain saws
through to explosive
charges.
During the training,
the STG staff will be deployed in full tactical kit and
will be carrying weapons.
A total of 10 New Zealand
Police STG staff and four members from various
Australian State Police Tactical Teams will be taking
part in the course.
The course is overseen by an
international guest instructor from the United
States,
to ensure the New Zealand and Australian Police Teams are
current
with the latest best practice in terms of
tactics and safety.
The training schedule is:
• Monday 12th: Police Range McLeans Island, 0900-1700hrs
• Tuesday 13th: Melody Place, Burwood, 0900-1630hrs
• Wednesday 14th: Smiths Cranes, 484 Johns Rd,
0930-1100hrs;
• Goodman Building, 652 Halswell
Junction Rd, 1200-1700hrs
• Thursday 15th: Melody Place, Burwood, 1000-2000hrs
• Friday 16th: Melody Place, Burwood, 0900-1200hrs
ENDS