Bunbury police hand-picked for CHOGM

Four Bunbury police officers will join a hand-picked riot squad to keep order at the Perth Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October.

Sgt Phil Nation and Constables Mike Lynch, Kurt Bryant and Chris Jacob will be part of the biggest security operation in the history of WA Police and take part in the Public Order Response Group.

The officers, who have received additional riot squad training, will be part of a big number of WA officers who were selected for their skills and experience to take part in CHOGM on October 28-30.

The group is taught to use additional equipment such as interlocking shields, batons, helmets and personal protective equipment to control and subdue out-of-control crowds.

The equipment they use at CHOGM will also return with the officers to Bunbury to boost local resources.

Const. Mike Lynch said he was looking forward to taking part in CHOGM.

‘‘It’s a good experience to apply the training we’ve been given and to work with other agencies and other police throughout the State,’’ he said.

Fellow officer Const. Kurt Bryant said he was excited to take part in an international event.

The role of the Public Order Response Group at CHOGM will be to support police and provide back-up if crowds become inflamed or if protesters breach security.

Const. Lynch said the response group would be on-call and would be deployed in certain situations.

He said one such case could be if groups ‘‘start causing strife’’ while the Dignitary Protection Unit was moving a VIP, then the Public Order Response Group would step in and provide extra support and security but then leave when order was re-established.

Deputy Commissioner Chris Dawson said police expected protesters to come out for CHOGM.

‘‘We will certainly have the resources to deal with that appropriately,’’he said.

‘‘Police have been looking at suitable areas where people might protest and it is understood that interest groups want to be seen and heard andwe will endeavour to accommodate that wish.

‘‘However, WA Police’s primary responsibility is ensuring the safety and security of the event itself and of the delegates attending the event.’’

Deputy Commissioner Dawson said frontline policing in regional areas would not be affected by officers attending CHOGM.

‘‘Temporary limitation of nonessential leave in the period leading up to and during CHOGM will also effectively make more police officers available for front line deployment,’’ he said.

Hes aid in regional WA this initiative would considerably increase deployment numbers of police officers.