Overview
- The new Armed Response Command moved from closed training to a public phase on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and officers carrying long‑armed rifles and specialist vehicles are expected to appear on Sydney streets in the coming weeks.
- The Minns government funded the unit with $94 million for training, vehicles and weapons, and senior NSW Police travelled to the UK and Europe to study overseas rapid‑response models during the design phase.
- At full strength the ARC will comprise 250 sworn officers and 28 civilian staff working around the clock to provide a rapid armed response to serious incidents.
- ARC officers will be issued locally made Australian Combat Assault Rifles (ACARs) from Lithgow Arms and will assume the high‑visibility patrol duties now performed by Operation Shelter.
- Officials present the unit as both a deterrent to those who incite hatred and a measure to reassure communities after the December 2025 Bondi Beach attack, and policymakers may now track how visible armed patrols affect public confidence and local policing workloads.