Every cop in Sydney could soon be patrolling the streets armed with assault rifles to guard against organised crime and terrorism.
Riot quad officers were issued with 47 Colt M4 rifles, and will carry them on New Year’s Eve, and all 100 members will have access to them within six months.
But NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the high-powered weapons could soon be in every police car boot and slung on every cop’s shoulder.
Every cop in Sydney could soon be patrolling the streets armed with assault rifles to guard against organised crime and terrorism
‘It’s not a big leap to take that next step. It’s certainly possible but not in the coming months. We need to continue that conversation,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
The M4s will initially only be used in situations where there was a known threat, but over time this could be expanded to everyday use.
The rifles, popular with U.S. special forces and SWAT teams, shoot three-round semiautomatic bursts and are usually configured to fire fully automatic.
Commissioner Fuller said Australians had to get used to more intense policing as threats from well-armed gangs and terrorists increased.
The M4s will initially only be used in situations where there was a known threat, but over time this could be expanded to everyday use.
Riot quad officers were issued with 47 Colt M4 rifles, and will carry them on New Year’s Eve, and all 100 members will have access to them within six months
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the high-powered weapons could soon be in every police car boot and slung on every cop’s shoulder
‘There’s no point in us pretending the environment hasn’t changed — the organised crime environment, the terrorism environment,’ he told reporters on Monday.
He understood many people said they were not ready for ‘European style policing’ where officers armed to the teeth patrol every train station.
But any concerns he may have had were put to rest after he fired an M4 without the benefit of the intensive 10-day course his officers just underwent.
Commissioner Fuller said he shot the rifle with ‘dead point’ target accuracy at a range of 100m.
He understood many people said they were not ready for ‘European style policing’ where officers armed to the teeth patrol every train station (UK officer pictured)
Commissioner Fuller said Australians had to get used to more intense policing as threats from well-armed gangs and terrorists increased
The state’s top cop also said police had foiled several Columbine-style school shootings before they were carried out – as South Australian officers did recently.
He said greater police powers allowed them to more easily identify people planning ‘lone wolf’ attacks, be they terrorists or mass shooters.
‘Some of those [arrested] were in the process of planning Columbine-type attacks at local schools. We’re not sitting on our hands,’ he told the Telegraph.
‘They don’t profile as a terrorist but they are capable of terrorist activities.’
The state’s top cop also said police had foiled several Columbine-style school shootings before they were carried out
The military-style weapons would be used as a deterrent and to take on better-armed offenders over greater ranges than standard-issue Glock 22 pistols
The M4, popular with U.S. special forces and SWAT teams, shoots three-round semiautomatic bursts and is usually configured to fire fully automatic
Police were also positioned to monitor Australians fighting with terrorists , both those who have returned and some who are still overseas.
The military-style weapons would be used as a deterrent and to take on better-armed offenders over greater ranges than standard-issue Glock 22 pistols.
Most overseas incidents occurred at a range of 25 to 100 metres where pistols were not effective enough and put police at a disadvantage.
NSW Police Minister Troy Grant said the world was changing and police needed the resources and technology to adapt to it.
‘We wish we didn’t have to move down this path and we hope these fire arms never have to be used,’ he said.
‘As the crime landscape changes and international threats reach our shores it is important our police have these capabilities.’