Operation Shelter made permanent

The NSW government will make Operation Shelter permanent, transitioning it into a 250-officer rapid response unit within the NSW Police Force following the Bondi Beach terror attack and rising religiously motivated incidents across the state.

Operation Shelter was first launched following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led onslaught in southern Israel, which led to heightened tensions in Sydney, including large protests and a rise in antisemitic incidents.

Premier Chris Minns said the decision would ensure police were “always ready” to respond to threats, patrol high-risk areas and protect places of worship and major events.

“Operation Shelter has worked. Making it permanent means we’re building on what we know delivers real results,” Minns said.

“People want to see police where it matters, at major events, near places of worship, and in busy public spaces. This ensures that presence is consistent, because our security challenges have changed and our policing model needs to change with them.”

The Australian-first unit will have approximately 250 dedicated police officers, 28 civilian staff and a fleet of specifically modified rapid-response vehicles, meaning police will no longer be rotated out of existing Police Area Commands.

The expanded capability will include additional Multicultural Liaison Officers and Senior Multicultural Liaison Officers, and a 24/7 specialised Police Operations Centre to support the unit with real-time coordination and intelligence.

Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said the government was responding decisively to the Bondi attack.

“What happened at Bondi has etched a permanent scar onto our community,” Catley said.

“We are responding decisively by establishing a new, rapid response capability to detect and respond to threats.”

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters the transition is expected to take around 18 months.

“Our priority is not only ensuring the community is safe, but that people also feel safe, while providing a deterrence to anyone who wants to do harm,” Lanyon said.

The AJN understands a strong police presence outside Jewish institutions will continue throughout the transition.

In January, a senior NSW Police delegation travelled to Germany and the United Kingdom to study best practice in policing and emergency management.