The Operations Response Unit is the successor to the Force Response Unit, its reported strength is 289 and was formed in 2010. The primary role of the FRU was to provide public order and riot response, in reality it was used mainly in its secondary role to provide assistance to general duties police throughout the state as required. In 1993, the FRU cleared demonstrators 'picket line' at the Richmond Secondary College using violent baton charges and pressure point tactics to forcibly remove them. In 1994, the FRU cleared environmental demonstrators blocking a Minister's office, using pressure point tactics to forcibly remove them. In September 2000, 953 police officers drawn from throughout the state, led by the FRU, were confronted by thousands of protestors, including violent protestors, at the World Economic Forum / S11 protest at Crown Casino. In 2004, the secondary role of the FRU took more prominence with the formation of the Critical Incident Response Team concept. This secondary role eventually became the primary role of the FRU. The ORU was created to replace the previous role of the FRU. The ORU is split into five teams - four ORU teams and one PORT. PORT is a full-time re-invention of the now defunct Public Order Management teams which was previously made of officers with riot and public order training from around the state and used on an 'as needed' basis. PORT’s core function is to respond to demonstrations and public order incidents, such as out of control parties within metropolitan Melbourne.
Equipment
PORT is issued with a range of specialist crowd control and riot equipment. These includes protective equipment, long and short shields. On 11 October 2018, the Labor Government announced that PORT will be given $596m, to add 40 new members to the PORT team as well as purchase less than lethal police equipment including new transport vehicles, Pepperball guns, PR-24 Rigid baton, plastic handcuffs. Apart from the specialist carry vehicles, PORT members usually drive inToyota Kluger that allow rapid deployment to metropolitan and country locations at short notice. Victoria Police minister, Lisa Neville stated:
“The Public Order Response Team has been given a major boost, with 40 new staff, support officers, new equipment, and now new transport vehicles to help them respond to major incidents.”
Roles
The Public Order Response Team specialises in:
Crowd control
Riot response and control
Search warrants
Alcohol related anti-social behavior
Liquor Licensing enforcement
Out of control parties and brawls.
Assisting other police units where a large coordinated response is required at short notice
PORTs roles includes: attending large public demonstrations; protests and industrial disputes; assisting with search warrants; and situations that require a highly visible police presence. PORT has previously been involved in the removal of Occupy Melbourne from City Square, The GROCON Dispute and the East West Link Tunnel Protests. PORT regularly deploys large numbers of officers to A-League football matches held within Victoria. Each summer PORT is also utilized for Bushfire Response duties as part of . PORT provides core assistance each weekend to Operation Safe Streets conducted on a Friday and Saturday night. Their focus is on visiting licensed premises and other popular late night venues and also assist with out of control parties as well as generalised public order policing. The Safe Streets Taskforce is a highly visible police operation conducted in areas with alcohol related public order issues. Officers from PORT and the ORU have previously been deployed the following emergency situations:
