The Queensland Police Service (QPS) recently conducted multiple counter-terrorism-based training exercises across the state, including at Suncorp Stadium, to ensure officers are highly trained and fully prepared to respond effectively to any threat or critical incident.
While there is no current threat to Queensland and such events are rare, the preparation and practice for police, security staff and emergency responders is timely, crucial and invaluable to all.
Exercise Sundown comprised of a frontline response exercise where general duties police were called to respond to active armed offenders at Suncorp Stadium, and a desktop exercise about resourcing allocation in response to the evolving incident, ensuring officers and relevant partner agencies are well equipped with knowledge, training and resources when engaging high-risk incidents.
As part of the response, police were called to assist with crowd control at a sports game, threat management, and respond to live hostage situations.
Officers were tasked with responding to multiple armed offenders at these locations, working together to effectively manage and contain the threat by applying their training, expertise, and teamwork.
Specialist Operations Deputy Commissioner and Chair of the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Public Information Sub Committee, Cheryl Scanlon, said this type of counter-terrorism training is about ensuring the QPS is prepared to respond to potential threats.
“Counter-terrorism training is practical, realistic and scenario based, preparing our officers for high-risk events – because when the unthinkable happens, Queenslanders rely on us to respond quickly and decisively,’ said Deputy Commissioner Scanlon.
“These training sessions are integrated into our routine operations because the Service recognises the importance of proactively testing our systems and processes at every opportunity. We train together, challenge assumptions, and refine our tactics so that our response is always coordinated, disciplined and effective.
“These exercises are made possible through strong partnerships with major shopping centre, retail and entertainment precincts, stadiums, and other stakeholders across Queensland, allowing agencies to test, and refine their collective response to capabilities.”
Stadiums Queensland Chief Executive Officer Todd Harris also reiterated the importance of collaboration in safeguarding large-scale events, after Suncorp Stadium staff took part in Exercise Sundown.
“This was an important learning opportunity for the Suncorp Stadium team to understand how they can continue to adapt and refine their emergency response plans to help ensure the safety of patrons attending events at the venue,” Mr Harris said.
“We hope we never have to use this training, but we are reassured that we have strong partnerships with emergency services like QPS providing a high level of preparedness across our portfolio of venues.”