Police order Quick Response Teams in every district

Police headquarters have ordered the formation of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in every district to respond rapidly to sudden law-and-order disruptions and other emergencies.

The directive was issued by the Operations Branch of Police Headquarters on Wednesday (September 30).

A letter signed by Additional DIG (Operations) Shahzada Md Asaduzzaman was sent to all district police superintendents and relevant specialised units.

The QRTs will operate under district police supervision and comprise personnel from specialised units, including the Police Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation Department, Naval Police, Railway Police, Tourist Police, Armed Police Battalion, Industrial Police and Highway Police.

According to the directive, the teams will be tasked with reaching affected areas quickly, containing sudden law-and-order situations and helping restore normalcy.

Police headquarters has also instructed districts to conduct regular joint operations and drills involving QRT members, particularly in drug- and crime-prone areas. The exercises are intended to strengthen coordination among different police units and improve their ability to conduct rapid joint operations during emergencies.

District authorities have been instructed to promptly report details of operations and drills, including the number of participating officers and personnel, items recovered and people detained, to the relevant branch of Police Headquarters.

The directive has been circulated to all district police superintendents as well as the relevant range officers and specialised units, including APBN, Industrial Police, PBI, Highway Police, Tourist Police, Railway Police and Naval Police.

The initiative will bring personnel from different police units under a coordinated district-level response structure, allowing them to be deployed jointly and more quickly during emergencies.