Special Tactical Squad


The Special Tactical Squad is a paramilitary task force of the Hong Kong Police Force, being a sub-division of the Police Tactical Unit. It was created in June 2014 to handle protests with its main tasks being crowd control and riot control, including when the PTU suffered from heavy blockade or obstruction. Examples were obstacle removal, conducting arrests, providing first aid, etc. The STS would also conduct observational and command related tasks, to ensure and review the Police Tactical Unit's use of force and tactics are appropriate, to further improve from past events. A report by Amnesty International singled out the Special Tactical Squad and riot police for "the worst abuses" of excessive force during the 2019-20 protests, noting that "almost every arrested person interviewed described being beaten with batons and fists during the arrest, even when they were not resisting and often already restrained," along with multiple hospitalizations.

History

In order to handle Occupy Central, the principle of the Police Tactical Unit, Chief Superintendent Au Yeung Chiu Kong Danko established the Special Tactical Squad task force in late June 2014. From its establishment, it was referred to as Removal Team internally in the police force. As Occupy Central evolved into the 2014 Hong Kong protests, the Removal Team got exposure in the press. The Hong Kong media gave it the nickname of Professional Removal Team. As Occupy Central continued, the squad gained further attention. On 30 Nov 2014, the Chief Superintendent of the Police Tactical Unit, Au Yeung Chiu Kong Danko, officially named it as the Special Tactical Squad.
The Special Tactical Squad within the Hong Kong Police Force was stripped of their special task force status, and instead put within the police structure as an official unit.The unit mainly consists of operators from Special Duties Unit, Airport Security Unit, Counter-Terrorism Response Team and Railway Response Team.
On 9 February evening, 2016, in an escalation of the civil unrest, protesters changed their tactics, overwhelming the Hong Kong Police Force, and the Special Tactical Squad were deployed as a result. They arrived at the intersection of Soy Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South at 4:30 am, where they quickly cleared protesters. However, after 5 minutes, due to the lack of reinforcements, they were forced to retreat, with one constable injured.

Selection training

Police officers require training in thermal cutting and obstacle removal.

Uniform

Work Uniform: Dark Blue, similar to other police units' uniform, including the Police Tactical Unit's work uniform, Airport Security Unit's work uniform, Marine Region's work uniform, Police Dog Unit's action uniform, Force Search Unit's work uniform, etc. To void of the media's confusion, and to be easily recognizable by the public, there is an emblem in their righter chest area, writing "Police Tactical Unit Special Tactical Squad" in English. Other than that, constables must stick on coloured labels on their helmet during daytime, and insert a fluorescent stick in night time, as for easier recognition by a commanding officer.

Equipment

Medical

S10, FM 53, Canadian C4 Gas mask

Occupy Central">Occupy Central with Love and Peace">Occupy Central, [Umbrella Revolution], [Umbrella Movement]

2016 Mong Kok Civil Unrest

2016 Anti-Interpretation Protest

2019 anti extradition bill protests

Squads were deployed to disperse the crowds after clashes between the protesters and the police started. During some of the protests in August, protesters threw Molotov cocktails, bricks, metal pipes etc., and the squads deployed tear gas canisters, rubber bullet, beanbag rounds to disperse them, live-fire weapons were also deployed. Many of the officers were accused for using excessive force during arrests and while dispersing the protesters. Most notably during the 2019 Prince Edward station attack and the siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. SDU operators from Special Tactical Squad were also known to have disguised as protesters to make arrests, in which they were accused by some citizens for committing illegal acts such as setting fire on the street during their undercover assignments, thereby achieving their goals of false flag operations.

Action record