The Minns Labor Government is turning Operation Shelter into a permanent rapid response unit within the NSW Police Force, a move aimed at keeping communities safe in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack and a rise in hate-related incidents across the state.
Originally launched in October 2023 amid heightened tensions in Sydney, Operation Shelter was designed as a temporary operation to strengthen police presence at major protests, crowded public areas, and houses of worship. The reform now transitions the unit from a reactive operation into a 24/7, structured rapid response capability.
Premier Chris Minns said the decision reflects a new approach to community safety: “The safety of the people of New South Wales is our number one priority. Operation Shelter has worked. Making it permanent means we’re building on what we know delivers real results.”
“People want to see police where it matters, at major events, near places of worship, and in busy public spaces. This ensures that presence is consistent, because our security challenges have changed and our policing model needs to change with them.”
The permanent unit will feature around 250 dedicated officers, 28 civilian staff, and a fleet of rapid-response vehicles, allowing police to maintain a visible and proactive presence without being rotated out of existing commands.
A specialised Police Operations Centre will coordinate intelligence, logistics, and surge responses in real time, while additional Multicultural Liaison Officers will strengthen engagement with diverse communities.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the reform is a decisive response to the Bondi attack, which she described as leaving “a permanent scar onto our community.” She added,
“Police do extraordinary work and this is about giving them the tools they need to continue to keep the community safe in the wake of the worst terror incident we’ve ever seen in this country.”
The unit will also take lessons from overseas policing, following a recent delegation of senior NSW Police officers to Germany and the United Kingdom to study rapid-response and emergency management best practice. Unlike these countries, NSW had previously relied on temporary surge operations to disrupt crime and reassure communities.
Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said the move reinforces cohesion across the state’s diverse communities:
“NSW’s strength comes from our diversity, and we are committed to working hand-in-hand with our multicultural communities to strengthen cohesion, build trust, and ensure every person feels safe, respected and included.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM said the unit will provide a “long-arm capability” for major events and high-profile sites, adding that “our priority is not only ensuring the community is safe, but that people also feel safe, while providing a deterrence to anyone who wants to do harm and support our frontline operational police.”
The Police Federation welcomed the reform, with President Kevin Morton calling it “an Australia first policing reform” that gives officers “the equipment and rapid deployment needed to keep them, and the community safe.”
The permanent Operation Shelter complements a wider package of community safety reforms, including tougher firearms laws, measures to curb public displays of terrorist symbols, and updated powers for managing public assemblies after terrorist events, ensuring NSW moves beyond temporary surge responses toward a long-term, structured policing capability.
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