1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Now the Territory Response Group of gearing up for a 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: counter terrorism exercise. It's taking place, I believe in the 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: Darwin CBD tomorrow evening. It is a chance for the 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: specialized police unit to practice an assault on a building 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: to rescue hostages and allow the team to build confidence 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: and put in a range of tactical skills. We'll put 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: them to the test. I guess it is probably the 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,159 Speaker 1: web best way of putting it. Now, joining me in 9 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: the studio to tell us a little bit more is 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: the TERG Senior Sergeant Meechim King. Good morning to you 11 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: meet Jim. 12 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, really good. Good to have you in the studio. 13 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: Now tell us, well, what can you tell us about 14 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 2: this exercise on Wednesday? 15 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, so not jet you please be running account teris 16 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 3: of exercise tomorrow evening between seven thirty and eight thirty 17 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 3: pm in the vicinity of Daily Mitchell and Pierry Street. 18 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 4: So it's going to be good. 19 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 3: We run these exercises a couple times a year and 20 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 3: this one will be focused on more so our hostage 21 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 3: rescue exercise and we're looking forward to it and it's 22 00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 3: going to be a good exercise with. 23 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: Are you at liberty to tell us a little bit 24 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: more about the scenario that might unfold. 25 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, So with the scenario we've based on is the 26 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 3: Prime Minister of Australia and the little position are in 27 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 3: town doing a open air debate and as part of 28 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 3: that debates and terrace of storm taking them both hostages 29 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 3: as well as another people, and they're making some political 30 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 3: demands to change his train constitution. If the demands a 31 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 3: up meant they're threatening to start executing hostages. 32 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: And what kind of police resources are then sort of 33 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: going to be involved in going through this exercise. 34 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, if it's a real job, you'd be quite intense. 35 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 3: But because it's an exercise, we can dictate how much 36 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 3: you want to do with it. So I have a 37 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 3: couple of units with a division to help with the 38 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 3: streets being blocked off for a very very short period 39 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 3: of time. Other than that, it's pretty much just the 40 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: TRG itself doing the exercise. And obviously we have some 41 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 3: role players coming along to come and play and help 42 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 3: play the role of the VIPs and the hostages, which 43 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 3: will be a very unique opportunity for them to come 44 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 3: and experience that. 45 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: Is it a pretty like is it a good thing 46 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: for you? 47 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: Guys to be able to go through this whole process 48 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: and actually have an exercise where you do have civilians 49 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: taking part as well and being always training. 50 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 3: The unit's always training every week doing stuff, and we 51 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 3: have a number of venues around Darwin and the rest 52 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 3: of the territory we train at. 53 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 4: But these exercises really put them to the test. 54 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 3: They haven't seen the venue before, they don't know what's 55 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 3: inside of how it works. So it puts all those 56 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 3: points together and all those that training they do and 57 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 3: we test them and it's all not only learning about 58 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 3: what we do well, but what we need to work on. 59 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 3: And we have another junior members coming through. It's a 60 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 3: good experience with them the team leaders as well challenging 61 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 3: them and with the role players. We have done big 62 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: exercises at the Darwin High School with the Junior Police Rangers. 63 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 3: We had one hundred kids turn up for that one 64 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 3: CASU in a square. We do a big active shooter 65 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 3: exercise on me once a year. We had three four 66 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 3: years ago. We had one hundred and twenty people for that. 67 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 3: The good thing about having role players who aren't part 68 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,839 Speaker 3: of police with this case we have is that there 69 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 3: be a bit OVERWHELMEDO what's going on. They'll be very 70 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: realistic of how they feel. So it allows the operators 71 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 3: no coming to talk to people. We've got a bit advantage, 72 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 3: a bit anxious to bit upset there, bit we've got 73 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 3: a bit of fear, so we can communicate with them 74 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 3: and work to the process, which is extremely realistic. 75 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: How important is it that the TRG does this kind 76 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: of training. I mean when you look at some of 77 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: the different scenarios that have occurred over the years, and 78 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: some people might be listening thinking, oh, that sounds quite 79 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: far fetched, you know, having the PM and somebody else 80 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: there and potentially taken hostage, while kind of you know, 81 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: in a live open air debate, but the reality of 82 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: it is, like people are very accessible in the Northern. 83 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 4: Territory right now. 84 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's extremely realistic. Obviously, the threat level nationally is probable. 85 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 3: Doesn't mean anything's going to happen, but we have to 86 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: prepare for it. 87 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 4: Now. 88 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 3: We had Link Cafe in Sydney a number of years ago, 89 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 3: so we're not immune to the risk. But just because 90 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 3: we may or may not have it, we still need 91 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 3: to prepare for. These exercise are essential to basically get 92 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 3: an opportunity for them to really testimony as most realistic 93 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,119 Speaker 3: conditions as we can safely and to make it work. 94 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: Is it a bit unique in terms of the training 95 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: that you're doing this time round? Like with the location 96 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: and I know you can't say the exact location at 97 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: this point, but I know we're going to. 98 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: Do a follow up later in the week. 99 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: But in terms of you know, like the location and 100 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: the type of training that you're going to be able 101 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: to do this time round, is it a little bit unique? 102 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is is, and that the venue we've got 103 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 3: is realistic to the whey the buildings laid out and 104 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 3: it provides little different rooms and upstairs downstairs, and so 105 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 3: it is challenging. And the scenario we've picked is really 106 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 3: for that building that we're allowed to use. 107 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 4: So it's really. 108 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 2: Gonna work well, now tell me. 109 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: I mean, in terms of some of the high risk 110 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 1: situations that you guys do have to deal with, there's 111 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: been a lot in the Northern Territory really hasn't there 112 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: like and it's not just the high risk, but you're 113 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: also involved in like search and rescue all sorts of things. 114 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, So the main royalty is the high risk incidents 115 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 3: and counter terrorism, but we do bond response and the 116 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 3: dignity protection jobs as well. We used to run search 117 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 3: and rescue INNTIL recently now the Search and Rescue System section. Yeah, 118 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 3: Chris has come in and spoken to you, So they've 119 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 3: taken that almost still assisting in some capacity, but they've 120 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 3: taken that on and that's mainly because the workload for 121 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 3: us is just getting busier and for a population based 122 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 3: on the Northern Territory are probably one of the busiest 123 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 3: per capita in the in Australia. 124 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 4: But it's also the tirianny distance. 125 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 3: You know, you come to work and next wee you've 126 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 3: been a police plane traveling anywhere throughout the worldn Territory. 127 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 4: That's what makes the job so good. 128 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, what are some of the more interesting situations are you? 129 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 4: Like? 130 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: Can you disclose some of the more interesting ones that 131 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: you've been involved in on. 132 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 4: There a couple of jobs. Obviously President Baba, we came 133 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:13,679 Speaker 4: up to Darwin. 134 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: We were heavily involved in the planning for that with 135 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 3: a secret service and they had a secret services. Was 136 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 3: one of the best operations they've done and they've traveled 137 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 3: all over the world just to be in the territory. 138 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 3: We're small, we know everybody. We work together and it 139 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 3: comes together us. That was a really good job. We 140 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 3: had a job back and probably four or five years 141 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 3: ago now down near the queens and or the Territory border. 142 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 4: Information was there was a cattle station. 143 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,119 Speaker 3: They were manufacturing method fetamines and running across the border 144 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 3: to Mount iSER. 145 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 4: So we were going down to do a warrant there. 146 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 3: The people involved that had significant criminal history murder, manslaughter, 147 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 3: so they were very nasty individuals. 148 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 4: It was interesting that job. 149 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 3: But we were actually we drive down and we were 150 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 3: stationed about two hundred comers away. 151 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 4: It was as close as we could get. 152 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 3: When communications actually got a phone Cripples or course said 153 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 3: there's a lady there being held hostage against the will. 154 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: So it was very uncanny that if we were up 155 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 3: in Darwin got that call. Be very challenging and here 156 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: we are ready to go and do the place over 157 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 3: and a warrant, and we were very close, so we did. 158 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 3: We moved in the middle and night, we walked in 159 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: and we secured it. We arrested those people safely and 160 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 3: we found some number of firearms, some meth making equipment 161 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 3: and turned out the lady wasn't entirely there against the 162 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 3: will where there were some issues there, but she was 163 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,679 Speaker 3: found safe and well. But there was a great example 164 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 3: of how the unit can pack up, move over a 165 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 3: thousand kilometers and get to a place and do it 166 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 3: safely well. 167 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: And being needed like in those quite extreme and difficult 168 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: situations as well, I would imagine. 169 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and the tyranny distance is the biggest issue for us. 170 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: It's with such a big place and were so remote. 171 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: Matcham, tell me have you got how many people have 172 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: you currently got in the units? 173 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 3: I'm not really liberty to say, but we've got enough 174 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 3: to do what we need to do in there, but 175 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 3: we're going to do it more. 176 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 4: But yeah, we're always doing something. We always recruiting. 177 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: Well, that was going to be my next question. I mean, 178 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 2: are you are you on the lookout for new recruits? 179 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 2: How does it work like? Do they have to go 180 00:06:58,200 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: through the police force needs to come up the. 181 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's right. 182 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 3: They do six months in the college and they'll get 183 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 3: posts of their station, do eighteen months. Once they've completed 184 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 3: their probation, which is two years, they can apply. 185 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 4: They'll then do a one day fitness test. 186 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 3: We do a bit of fitness training, a bit of 187 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 3: a weapon handing, bit of navigation, just to see what 188 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 3: they're like. If they're successful, they'll apply for the two 189 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: day Barrier Care test, which is basically two full days 190 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 3: no sleep, pushing through that mental and physical exhaustion, just 191 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 3: see how they are getting comfortable, be and uncomfortable, so 192 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 3: to speak. Once they pass out, they'll move on to 193 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 3: some weapons and some hostage rescue training. So we're really 194 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 3: assessing their trainability. Can they do the skills safety, can 195 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 3: they pick them up? And if they move through all 196 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 3: those steps, they'll then apply for a position, and if 197 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 3: they successful and get the position, that's when the training 198 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 3: really starts. It's four to six months solid courses. We've 199 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 3: got to pass one course, move on to the next 200 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 3: to them. Once they get through or then they're considered 201 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 3: to be operational, then they're out of the teams and 202 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 3: working their way. 203 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 4: Up from there. 204 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: Well, i'll tell you what, it's going to be an 205 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: interesting few days for you guys with this training. I'll 206 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: be very interested to find out more about how it 207 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: all goes. We'll catch up with you again on Thursday. 208 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: Thank can get a bit of a wash up, I 209 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: suppose from that exercise meet Chim King. 210 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: Lovely to catch up with you this morning. Thank you 211 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: so very much for your time. Thank you