Following the Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia on December 14, the Delhi Police are developing comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for crisis response.
Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha directed the Special CPs of Operations and Training units to jointly draft the SOP.
The SOP will define roles and responsibilities for various units, including PCR, SWAT, Special Cell, Crime Branch, Traffic units, and the Special Branch.
The goal is to ensure rapid transition from chaos to control with maximum coordination and minimal confusion in counter-terror and active-shooter situations.
Detailed Insights:
The new protocol will focus on clear work distribution, command structure, perimeter security, crowd control, and communication channels between field units, control rooms, and senior leadership.
Emphasis is on seamless integration of multiple units to avoid delays and duplication of effort during operations, including joint exercises with paramilitary forces and disaster management teams.
The Special CP (Training) is tasked with creating short videos on preserving crime scenes and outlining expected responses during such incidents, along with simulated active shooter training.
The Delhi Police also stepped up security across Israeli and Jewish establishments in Delhi following an intelligence warning during the Hanukkah festival (December 14-21).
The drafted protocol will be reviewed, refined, and institutionalized to ensure every unit knows exactly how to respond in a similar situation, with clear accountability at every level.
The SOP aims to improve response time, attacker neutralization, crowd communication, and post-incident investigation, and will be incorporated into training programs and field exercises.
Key Concepts Involved:
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): A set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations.
Counter-Terrorism: Actions aimed at preventing, deterring, and responding to terrorist threats and attacks.
SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics): A specialized police unit trained to handle high-risk situations, such as hostage situations and armed standoffs.