Heavily armed police officers have begun patrolling Sydney’s streets as part of heightened security measures introduced following last year’s deadly shooting at Bondi Beach.
The operation, known as the Armed Response Command (ARC), deploys specially trained officers carrying long-arm rifles to busy tourist areas across the city, marking an unusual sight for many residents.
New South Wales Police said the officers would also patrol major events, including sporting matches, as well as places of worship, to prevent and respond quickly to serious threats.
The operation is intended to “prevent, deter and rapidly respond to serious threats, including active armed offender incidents”, police said.
The increased security follows the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach, where two gunmen opened fire during an event marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, killing 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl.
It was Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in almost three decades and prompted sweeping gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech.
The sight of heavily armed officers on the streets has drawn mixed reactions from the public.
One Sydney resident told ABC News that the presence of armed police was “unnerving”.
“They are just everywhere. Those guns are huge,” the resident said.
However, another woman told the broadcaster that seeing officers carrying weapons made her feel safer.
New South Wales Police said ARC officers would be highly visible across Sydney, travelling in specialist vehicles and carrying rifles.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans said the operation was guided by one key principle: “preserving life”.
The December shooting placed immense pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, with growing calls for immediate action to tackle antisemitism.
Jewish communities have welcomed the new police operation, which is expected to eventually involve 250 officers. However, concerns have also been raised over the potential impact on civil liberties and human rights.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, acknowledged that armed officers on the streets were not something Australians wanted to see.
“No Australian wants to see officers with military weapons on our streets, but the sight of body bags is far worse,” he said.
Amnesty International Australia, meanwhile, expressed concern over what it described as the “militarisation of policing”.
The organisation also called on the state government to provide assurances that ARC would not be used to suppress peaceful protests.
“Any expansion of police powers and capabilities must be accompanied by clear, publicly accessible rules, robust independent oversight and accountability,” said Andrew Witheford of Amnesty International Australia.
The New South Wales government defended the heightened security measures, saying the country had been permanently changed by the attack.
“Our world changed forever. That’s just the truth of it, right across this country. And I said it at the time, we will never be the same again,” state Police Minister Yasmin Catley told ABC.
Meanwhile, one of the alleged 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, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was also armed and fired at the crowd, was shot dead by police at the scene.
