QRTs to become SWAT-like

The city police plan to shape up the Quick Response Teams (QRTs) on the lines of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams in the United States.

SWAT is an expert commando combat team of the US police.

This move comes after top Mumbai police officers interaction with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials during their visit to the US.

“The FBI’s training course was tailor-made to cater to our needs. We had discussions with the FBI and Los Angeles Police Department officials during the course. We saw how they respond to terrorist incidents and also witnessed live SWAT team operations,” said Arup Patnaik, Mumbai commissioner of police.

Twenty senior officers, including Patnaik and inspector general of police, Force One, Sadanand Date, from the police and other agencies such as the Central Reserve Police Force, National Security Guards and Border Security Force had attended the week-long programme in the US.

Patnaik added that the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai was discussed during the training and the hostage negotiation programme was designed accordingly.

Confident that the QRTs can function like the SWAT teams, a senior police official said: “The SWAT teams are armed with advanced weaponry and they also have their own helicopters. While QRTs also have advanced weaponry, they don’t have their own helicopters, but the Force One will be having their own choppers and hence we too can function like the SWAT teams.”

Formed after the 26/11 attacks to combat terrorist operations, the Quick Response Team has a strength of 650 personnel.