New South Wales Police have deployed specially trained officers carrying rifles in busy Sydney tourist areas, part of a security response to last December’s Bondi Beach shooting. The Armed Response Command (ARC) will also cover major sporting events and religious venues, with the stated aim of deterring serious threats and responding quickly to armed attacks. Police plan to expand the unit gradually to 250 officers. The move changes the security presence in public spaces and has prompted discussion about the unit’s powers and oversight.
Armed patrols follow the Bondi Beach shooting
On December 14 last year, two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl. It was Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years and was followed by firearms law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech.
Police say ARC officers will conduct highly visible patrols in Sydney in dedicated vehicles and carry rifles. Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans of New South Wales Police said the operation’s central principle was protecting lives. For police, the unit is intended to speed up responses to serious armed threats. For the public, rifle-carrying officers in everyday streets are a less familiar sight.
Residents divided over visible firearms
Some residents have voiced unease about the deployment. One resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that seeing officers everywhere, carrying a “big” gun, was unsettling. Another woman said armed police made her feel safer. The contrasting reactions point to the trade-off at the centre of the operation: increasing protection in public places may also change how residents experience those spaces.
Jewish community organisations welcomed the launch. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said nobody wanted to see officers carrying military-grade weapons on the streets, but seeing body bags would be worse. His remarks reflect the community’s focus on preventing a repeat of the attack.
Rights group calls for clear rules and independent oversight
Amnesty International Australia raised concerns about the “militarisation” of policing and called on the state government to ensure ARC is not used to suppress peaceful protests. Andrew Whitford of the organisation said expanded police powers and capabilities should be matched by clear, publicly available rules, effective independent oversight and accountability. Those demands have put transparency and the unit’s scope at the centre of public debate.
The state government has defended the measures, saying the Bondi Beach attack changed Australia’s security environment. Court proceedings in the case are continuing: one of the accused gunmen, Naveed Akram, has been charged with 78 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. His father, Sajid Akram, also fired at the crowd and was shot dead by police at the scene. The size of the patrol unit, where it will operate and how it will be overseen remain key public concerns.