The PTT (and later STAR) Team's standard attire. circa 1993.
The Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) is the SWAT/HRT equivalent of the Singapore Police Force. Its official task is to provide the Singapore Police Force with a tactical armed-response capability, and its motto is "Vigilance, Valour, Victory".
STAR started off in the late 1970's as a part-time outfit called the Police Tactical Team (PTT), and was mainly used to contain civil disorder. In November 1 1993, it was re-designated STAR under the Special Operations Command.
Duties
Pre-September 11
Prospective STAR officers undergo a gruelling 9 month selection and training programme. Prior to September 11, 2001 attacks, the role of STAR was to engage in neutralising armed and dangerous criminals, to resolve urban sieges that may involve hostages or firearms, protection of VIPs and escorting of particularly dangerous prisoners.
Post-September 11
After the events of September 11, the unit was also to undertake anti-terrorism duties. In 2005, STAR acquired a new maritime assault capability to augment the Police Coast Guard and the Republic of Singapore Navy in dealing with sea-borne threats.
Training
The STAR team is known to have extensively trained overseas together with foreign forces such as Hong Kong's Special Duties Unit (SDU), Israeli Border Guard's YAMAM unit, Germany's GSG-9, and the Austrailian SASR.
Weapons and Equipment
STAR officers use weapons that include the G-36C and SAR-21 Assault Rifle, MP5 submachine gun, various shotguns, with Glock 17 and Glock 19 pistols as their sidearm. They also employ a variety of sniper rifles.
Trivia
The STAR team is sometimes confused with the Police Coast Guard's Special Task Squadron (STS), the Prisons Service's Singapore Prisons Emergency Action Response (SPEAR) Force and the Army's Special Operations Forces (SOF)
