Critical Incident Response Team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CIRT officer in tactical gear during an emergency response searching for a gunman.

Victoria Police Critical Incident Response Team

The Critical Incident Response Teams are part of the Victorian Police Force Response Unit Command.

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRTs) respond to incidents that wouldn’t warrant the attendance of the Special Operations Group but for which the general duties police are not trained or equipped to deal with, such as offenders armed with knives or potential suicides and 'suspect parcels' [1].

CIRT also respond to incidents including hostage situations, violent prisoner control or transfer, suspicious substance attacks and terrorist actions [2] in support of the Special Operations Group.

In high risk situations CIRT response is to cordon and contain an area until the arrival of the Victoria Police Special Operations Group. CIRT officers have a range of specialised equipment and weapons in their inventory ranging from ballistic and tactical vests, shotguns, tasers, bean bag rounds and various OC (pepper spray) delivery systems [3].