Sub-Units and Teams
The Armed Response Unit comprises of the following sub-units:
Armed Response Vehicle Department
Firearms Training Department
South East Counter Terrorism Unit
Proactive Firearms Unit
Protection Group
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This website is currently undergoing major changes. Some information may be outdated. Last Updated: 10/08/2025
Armed Response Vehicle Department
The Armed Response Vehicle Department responds to major and serious crimes where firearms may be involved.
Firearms Training Department
The role of the Firearms Training department is to support the operational armed response to incidents involving the criminal use of firearms. The department may assist at firearms operations by providing specialist rifle officers, additional manpower, weapons, specialist munitions and with the tactical planning of the incident. The secondary role of the department is to provide comprehensive training in the police use of firearms. This includes initial firearms training, refresher training, and specialist firearms training. It also provides firearms command training at strategic (gold), tactical (silver) and operational (bronze) levels.
Counter Terrorism Unit
The Counter Terrorist Unit is responsible for responding to any search related or explosive or terrorist incident, working with the Protection Group to guard anyone deemed to be at risk and with the Dog Section to locate the explosive. The unit consists of Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers as well as Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officers and Advisors. The unit is led by an Inspector.
Proactive Firearms Unit
The Proactive Firearms Unit is responsible for using covert and proactive tactics for firearms operations and incidents. The unit is led by an Inspector.
Protection Group
The Protection Group is responsible for guarding multiple fixed locations and protecting any visiting parties that require special attention. Officers in this department are Advanced Drivers and trained in various tactics including Advanced Method of Entry and Advanced First Aid. Officers in PG are known as Close Protection Officers.
Specialist Firearms Officers
The department also consists of Specialist Firearms Officers which are trained in Method of Entry as well as being Rope Access trained.
Rifle Officers
Rifle Officers (RO) are specially-trained AFOs who deploy as a Rifle Team (Rifle/Observer Team) in support of an authorised firearms operation. They may be armed with a 7.62mm x 51mm scoped bolt-action sniper rifle or semi-automatic rifle.
They are trained to be able to make a precise shot, through glass barriers if necessary, this capability includes a simultaneous coordinated shot i.e. two Rifle Teams firing at the same time.
Despite their skills with the rifle, a Rifle/Observer Team's function is typically more about gathering intelligence than it is about pulling the trigger.
Rifle Officer Training
Training for Rifle Officers includes:
Shooting a Police Rifle in varying lighting and weather conditions to the national standard up to 300 meters
Positional shooting
Approaching and working from overt and covert observation points
Camouflage and concealment
Support to other police operations, e.g. CPO and Dynamic Intervention
Dispatching animals
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