Police Tactical Unit (Hong Kong)

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Police Tactical Unit (PTU)
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Fully armoured Police Tactical Unit in Riot control during the WTO 2005 meeting protests.
Active 1958-Present
Country  Hong Kong
Branch HongKongPoliceLogo.svgHong Kong Police Force
Type Paramilitary riot control
Role Internal security
Crowd control
Anti-crime operations
Disaster response
Riot control
Size ~ 2,000 Regulars
~ 1,000 echelon
Part of Operations Wing
Garrison/HQ 1 Wu Tip Shan Road, Fanling
Nickname(s) Blue Berets
Motto "Failing to plan is planning to fail."
Colours Olive green
Anniversaries 2008

The Police Tactical Unit (Abbreviation: PTU; Chinese: 警察機動部隊) is a paramilitary riot control unit of the Hong Kong Police Force. The Police Tactical Unit provides an immediate manpower reserve for use in any emergency, 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. The Police Tactical Unit is often referred as the 'Blue Berets', which is in reference to the blue berets worn as part of the uniform.

A subdivision of the PTU is the Special Duties Unit which specializes in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue.

Organisation

The Police Tactical Unit Base and training camp is located in Fanling.

This Unit 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.

Firearms

  • Smith & Wesson Model 10: Standard-issue sidearm, 6-shot .38 Special revolver.
  • Remington 870: Standard-issue shotgun, loaded with less-than-lethal 12-gauge bean-bag rounds.
  • Federal Model 201-Z Riot Gun: Standard-issue anti-riot gun, loaded with less-than-lethal CS rounds.
  • AR-15: Standard-issue rifle, loaded with 5.56×45mm rounds, only to be issued as a final resort when the situation encountered is uncontrollable or the target is far away from the PTU (400m or less).

Vehicles

File:Hong Kong Police Unimog 1.jpg
Hong Kong Police Force Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 armoured personnel carrier
File:Hong Kong Police Unimog 2.jpg
Hong Kong Police Force Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 armoured personnel carrier

In popular culture

  • The unit is portrayed in the 2003 film PTU, directed by Johnnie To.
  • 2007 TVB series On The First Beat
  • The unit is also portrayed in the 2009 film series Tactical Unit, directed by Johnnie To and with the same leading actors and actress of the 2003 film PTU.
  • The PTU also appear briefly in The Sniper 2009.

See also

External links