Central Operations

Central Operations

Territorial Support Group

What we do

Created in January 1987 to replace the Special Patrol Group, the Territorial Support Group (TSG) works to support Territorial Policing, Specialist Operations, Specialist Crime and boroughs in achieving our corporate objectives.

The TSG provides the MPS Strategic Reserve for public disorder and critical incident response. It is a taskable resource for tackling crime and crime related issues across all business groups as well as being an MPS reserve for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) response.

The Territorial Support Group (TSG) has three main tasks

  • Provides an anti-terrorism and domestic extremism capability.
  • Provide an immediate response to spontaneous disorder anywhere in London.
  • Reducing priority crime.

The unit is London’s first response to any planned or spontaneous events, which may involve public disorder. They have policed every major public order incident in the capital, including the Poll Tax demonstrations, Welling disturbances and Stop the City actions.

Building close working relationships with their colleagues on borough, through initiatives such as Operation Safer Streets, the TSG has been key in assisting to create safer communities

TSG consists of multi skilled and adaptable team of officers available to deal with a wide range of complex issues that may be beyond the capabilities of the borough or OCU concerned.

TSG officers are able to provide the following skills:

  • Firearms
  • Public Order Training
  • Rapid entry
  • Taser
  • Plain clothes/Uniform tactics
  • Providing tactical solutions and advice to borough and business group problems.

Deployment of TSG

Although a lot of their work is around providing the strategic reserve for the MPS, in the form of the Commissioners Reserve, their main purpose is to support the organisation. This work can be in the form of critical incidents, terrorism or spontaneous public disorder, as well as supporting boroughs on a local level to help out with priority crimes such as burglary or robbery.

They are also continuously developing their skills and are proud of the fact that they can fully train and deploy their officers in any new skill within five weeks. Most notably, they have branched into the areas of CBRN (chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear) response and trialing Tasers. The TSG are the MPSs response to CBRN incidents and has a specialist team on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The team receives specific training in deploying to CBRN incidents and undergoes regular refresher training on the subject.

Traditionally that TSG’s role has been about maintaining stability when it comes to public order in London, however the nature of disorder has changed over the years and the TSG have adapted to these changes. Through their ability to respond quickly and effectively to disorder, allied to improved intelligence gathering, partnership liaison and event planning, the TSG are more able to support boroughs and specialist units in the Metropolitan Police.

Training and Recruitment

TSG officers are selected on merit, and much emphasis is placed upon their personal ability, motivation and good communication skills. A high degree of fitness is required and applicants must be recommended by a senior officer.

Once selected an officer will complete a two week induction course where they receive further instruction in public order tactics, CBRN training and officer safety techniques. After joining their unit the officer is expected to maintain an appropriate level of fitness and the skills acquired on the induction course.

History

The Special Patrol Group (SPG) was formed in 1965 to provide a centrally based mobile squad for combating particularly serious crime and other policing issues which could not be dealt with by local police.

The convenient presence of a disciplined, well-organised team brought the group into increased use for the policing protests and demonstrations, where their presence came to assume unwanted symbolic significance.

In 1986 the SPG was disbanded and was replaced a year later by the Territorial Support Group.