The Police Tactical Unit (PTU; ) is a unit within the
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest Hong Kong Disciplined Services, disciplined service under the Security Bureau (Hong Kong), Security Bureau of Hong Kong.
Pursuant to the one c ...
which provides an immediate manpower reserve for use in large-scale emergencies.
Duties
Unit companies are attached to all land Regions and are available for internal security, crowd control, anti-crime operations, disaster response and riot control throughout
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
.
The PTU is also the parent organization of the
Special Duties Unit
The Special Duties Unit (SDU; zh, c=特別任務連), nicknamed the "Flying Tigers" ( zh, c=飛虎隊), is the elite tactical unit of the Hong Kong Police Force tasked with countering terrorist attacks, hostage rescue, underwater search and r ...
(SDU),
which specializes in
counter-terrorism
Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and intelligence agencies use to co ...
and
hostage rescue, and the
Special Tactical Contingent (STC), which specializes in
riot control
Riot control is a form of public order policing used by law enforcement, military, paramilitary or security forces to social control, control, disperse, and arrest people who are involved in a riot, unlawful Demonstration (people), demonstration ...
drawing members from other units including the PTU Headquarters and SDU for temporary ad hoc tasks.
The PTU base and training camp is located in
Fanling.
History
The PTU was established in 1958, known then as the Police Tactical Contingent (PTC).
The PTC's name changed to the PTU in 1968.
In 1969, the PTU was allowed to wear the beret as their standard headgear, which lead to the unit being known locally as the "Blue Berets".
According to a list of Refurbishment of Government Building projects released online by the Architectural Services Department, the PTU HQ's gymnasium, toilets and store room at Block M is proposed to be renovated for HK$5 to 10 million.
Duties
The PTU is responsible for training HKPF officers stationed within the Emergency Unit.
Organization
The PTU is made up of eleven companies, comprising in total about 2,000 officers. Each company (under the command of a Superintendent) is made up of 4 platoons, each led by an Inspector or Senior Inspector. A platoon comprises 32 Officers with 1 Station Sergeant (senior NCO) and 8 Sergeants.
The unit consists of the Training Division, Support Division, Research and Development Division, Emergency Unit, Special Tactical Contingent and the Special Duties Unit.
Vehicles
Current
*
Toyota Coaster
*
Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa
*
Mercedes-Benz Atego
*
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle (van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, ...
*
Ford F550; made in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
and named Sabertooth
Former
*
Isuzu NPR
*
Bedford TJ
*
Toyota Dyna
*
Saxon (vehicle)
*
Alvis Saracen
*
Mercedes-Benz Vario
*
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to simply as Mercedes and occasionally as Benz, is a German automotive brand that was founded in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, established in 2019) is based in Stuttgart, ...
Unimog U5000
Equipment
Personal gear
*
Baton
*
Pepper spray
Pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum spray, OC spray, capsaicin spray, mace, or capsicum spray is a Tear gas, lachrymator (tear gas) product containing as its active ingredient the chemical compound capsaicin, which irritates the eyes with burning ...
* S10 respirator
* Green Load Bearing Vest
* 5.11 Tactical Load Bearing Vest
Firearms
In popular culture
* ''
Tactical Unit (film series)''
* ''
On the First Beat''
See also
*
Airport Security Unit (Hong Kong)
The Airport Security Unit (ASU; zh, c=機場特警組) is the airport police of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) tasked with the security of the Hong Kong International Airport.
History
The ASU was originally formed in 1977 as the Spec ...
*
Special Duties Unit
The Special Duties Unit (SDU; zh, c=特別任務連), nicknamed the "Flying Tigers" ( zh, c=飛虎隊), is the elite tactical unit of the Hong Kong Police Force tasked with countering terrorist attacks, hostage rescue, underwater search and r ...
References
{{commons category, Police Tactical Unit (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong Police Force units
1958 establishments in Hong Kong