NSW Police’s new Armed Response Command is moving into the next stage of training, with officers and specialist vehicles expected to become more visible across Sydney in the coming weeks ahead of the unit becoming operational.
The permanent rapid-response command is being established with $94.3 million in state funding and will eventually include 250 police officers and 28 civilian staff.
The NSW Government describes the unit as an Australian-first permanent policing capability designed to respond rapidly to serious security threats and provide a visible presence at higher-risk locations and major events.
Public Training to Begin Across Sydney
ARC officers have so far been training in dedicated facilities, but the program is now moving into more realistic public environments.
Residents can expect to see officers carrying specialist equipment and using purpose-built vehicles during exercises across Sydney over the coming weeks.
The public phase is still part of training rather than the command’s full operational deployment.
Twenty-four purpose-built vehicles are also being delivered as part of preparations for the command.
250 Officers in Permanent Unit
At full strength, ARC will consist of:
- 250 dedicated police officers
- 28 civilian staff
- A fleet of rapid-response vehicles
- A specialised operations centre operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week
The permanent staffing model is intended to reduce the need to temporarily redeploy officers from local Police Area Commands when additional security resources are required.
The operations centre will support coordination, intelligence, logistics and operational planning.
Operation Shelter to Transition Into Permanent Command
ARC will replace the temporary structure used under Operation Shelter, which NSW Police established on 11 October 2023 amid heightened tensions linked to events in the Middle East.
Operation Shelter has involved high-visibility policing around locations including places of worship, transport hubs, major gatherings and other crowded public areas.
NSW Police records show the operation has dealt with antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents as well as broader public-order and security matters.
The transition to ARC changes that model from a surge operation drawing on existing commands to a permanently staffed rapid-response capability.
Focus on High-Risk Locations and Major Events
According to NSW Police, ARC will be intelligence-led and capable of being deployed to emerging threats and locations assessed as requiring an increased police presence.
Its duties are expected to include patrols around:
- Places of worship
- Major events
- High-profile public locations
- Areas subject to heightened security concerns
The unit is also intended to provide a faster armed response to serious incidents in metropolitan Sydney.
Model Informed by Overseas Police Units
A senior NSW Police delegation travelled to the United Kingdom and Germany in January 2026 to examine rapid-response policing models used overseas.
NSW Police says those visits informed the structure and training of the new command.
Officers are undergoing specialist training before the command becomes fully operational, including advanced driving and response preparation.
Part of Wider Police Investment
The $94.3 million ARC investment forms part of broader police and justice spending in the 2026–27 NSW Budget.
Other measures include $108.8 million for NSW Police technology and digital infrastructure, $26.9 million for 30 additional multicultural liaison officers, and $42.8 million over 10 years for the Firearms Registry.
The Armed Response Command has not yet entered full operational service, but its transition into public training marks the next stage before deployment as a permanent NSW Police unit.