<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 200 police officers with long-arm rifles will form a new armed response command to rapidly respond to hate-related threats in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The new intelligence-led command will patrol high-risk areas, places of worship, large protests and major events.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The armed response command will employ 250 specialist police officers, 28 civilian staff and a fleet of specifically modified rapid-response vehicles.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/chris-baghsarian-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-grandfather-sydney/66bdff80-d78a-4f28-974f-a9b31bf840be"><strong><span>Two arrested in kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dozens of police officers patrolled Sydney's eastern suburbs in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack under Operation Shelter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The task force was originally established in October 2023 to combat an increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Premier Chris Minns said the new armed response command would, in effect, make Operation Shelter permanent.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/terrorism-nsw-police-announces-new-armed-response-command-in-the-wake-of-bondi-terror-attack/4eae612f-f475-4a91-9283-678944803aa1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This will mean police officers who are armed with long arms that can be deployed in situations where there's a concern about community safety, or there's a need to ensure that there's a large police presence," Minns said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/australian-accountants-body-warns-on-sluggish-productivity/395d4536-7f2d-499c-b5ed-c10a3a22bf47" rel="" target="" title="Grim warning on economy by Australia's top accounting group"><strong><span>Grim warning on economy by Australia's top accounting group</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police minister Yasmin Catley said the new command would feature "some of the best policing you will see across the globe".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know, unfortunately, that our climate has changed, we know that we have to have a response ready," Catley said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This model is exactly that response that we need to rapidly deploy police to issues happening around our state and around our city at any given time."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Catley said the police force would employ civilians deeply embedded in multicultural communities to let police know what is happening on the ground.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These are the people that will assist police in letting us know what's happening on the ground in any given community," Catley said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-dual-citizen-rule-expired-passport-loophole-explained/f67b643f-992d-4e6d-930e-997dfe3dcf20"><strong><span>'We have been clear': Dual citizens warned after today's major passport change</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the horrific events of Bondi represented a change in the policing environment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Today's announcement of the armed command is about saying we're here for a permanent, preventative and rapid response for the community," Lanyon said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What we saw on the 14th of December cannot happen again.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I want the community to feel reassured.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This command is about saying there will be a 24/7 presence across the metropolitian area with long arms capability."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police Association president Kevin Morton said the "first of its kind" in Australia command would benefit police and the community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It provides our police with the ability to respond quickly to any threat with the equivalent equipment to stop that threat," Morton said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It also provides our frontline police with the real back-up they need to do their job.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When it comes to protecting the community, it ensures all communities will be protected and no community will be left behind."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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