NSW Police Force SOPS - Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

OFFICIAL: Sensitive – Legal Privilege

NSW Police Force

Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic

Aircraft

Operational Safety Training and Governance

Education and Operational Skills Command

OFFICIAL: Sensitive – Legal Privilege

Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

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Document Control Sheet

Document Properties

Title

NSW Police Force Standard Operating Procedures - Carriage of Arms and

Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

Subject

Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

Command responsible

Operational Safety Training and Governance, Education and Operational

Safety Command, People and Capability Command

Authorisation

Deputy Commissioner, Corporate Services

Security Classification /

Information Management

Markings

OFFICIAL: Sensitive – Legal Privilege

Publication date

March 2021

Current version number

1.5

Review date

August 2022

Document number

D/2022/853617

Suitable for Public

Disclosure

Modification History

Version #

Version /

approval date

Author/Position

Summary of changes

1.4

A/Inspector

HEALY, March

2021

Weapons & Tactics,

Policy & Review

DLM classification, template update,

OC spray limited updated from 100ml to a

maximum of one 105ml

1.5

Senior Constable

Jeremy McCULLY

August 2022

Operational Safety

Training and Governance

Command name change, and minor changes

to Chapter 7.1

OFFICIAL: Sensitive – Legal Privilege

Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

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Table of Contents

Document Control Sheet .............................................................................................................. 2

1. Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 4

2. Scope .................................................................................................................................... 4

3. All arms and appointments ................................................................................................. 4

4. Firearms ............................................................................................................................... 5

5. Ammunition .......................................................................................................................... 5

6. Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) sprays ....................................................................................... 5

7. Tasers (Conducted Electrical Weapon) .............................................................................. 5

8. Handcuffs ............................................................................................................................. 6

9. Batons .................................................................................................................................. 6

10. Check-in ............................................................................................................................... 6

11. Collection ............................................................................................................................. 6

OFFICIAL: Sensitive – Legal Privilege

Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

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1. Purpose

The purpose of these procedures is to ensure all police officers travelling with arms and appointments on any

domestic aircraft for official ‘on-duty’ travel, have packed and checked-in all items in accordance with airline

and NSW Police Force requirements, as set out within:

International Civil Aviation Organisation Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods

by Air;

•

International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods Regulations; and

•

Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Instrument of Approval (for Qantas Group, Virgin

Australia, Fly Corporate and Rex).

Regarding CASA Instruments of Approval:

Domestic airlines may only carry particular arms and appointments, such as OC sprays and Tasers, if

they are issued with a current CASA Instrument of Approval;

•

CASA Instruments of Approval may vary between airlines;

•

a copy of these procedures is required by CASA, in order for airlines to be issued with a CASA

Instrument of Approval;

•

the Operational Safety Training and Governance unit is responsible for providing an updated

copy of these procedures to each airline, prior to expiry of their CASA Instrument of Approval;

•

only the Qantas Group, Virgin Australia, Regional Express (Rex), Pel-Air Airlines And Fly Corporate/

Corporate Air currently have a CASA Instrument of Approval.

Notes have been provided to specify any particular airline requirement that varies from the general

procedures.

These procedures are available from the NSW Police Force intranet ‘Policy’ page, under ‘Operational

Policing’. All Police who intend to travel on domestic aircraft should carefully read and comply with the

conditions outlined in that particular airline’s Letter of Approval. The Letter of Approval applicable to each

airline covered by these SOPs, can be located on the NSW Police Intranet under Policy and

Procedures/Operational Policies/Police Handbook/Chapter A/Arms and Appointments/ Carriage of Firearms

and other Appointments on Aircraft/Arms and Appointments Forms Page.

For further advice regarding these procedures, please contact Operational Safety Training and Governance.

2. Scope

These procedures relate to all police officers travelling with arms and appointments on domestic aircraft

operated by Qantas (includes Qantas Airways, Qantas Airways Domestic, Eastern Australia Airlines,

Sunstate Airlines QLD, Jetstar Airways, National Jet Systems, Network Aviation Australia) Virgin (includes

Virgin Australia Airlines, Virgin Australia International Airlines, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines), Rex

(includes Regional Express, Pel-Air Aviation, Air Link), Fly Corporate and Corporate Air for official ‘on-duty’

travel.

Note: In the case of specialist operations and the carriage of arms and appointments not specified by

these procedures, additional arrangements with the relevant airline will be required. Additional

guidelines may also apply. The Dangerous Goods Section of the applicable airline should be

contacted for further information.

3. All arms and appointments

3.1

All arms and appointments carried on aircraft must be:

secured in a suitable case/box;

•

declared to check-in staff and presented with a copy of the relevant airline approval letter, and

checked-in as checked baggage (other than handcuffs used for the purpose of escorting a prisoner - see

section 8 below).

Arms and appointments include all firearms, ammunition, OC sprays, Tasers, handcuffs and batons, for

the purpose of official ‘on-duty’ travel (see below for specific details).

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Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

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All cases/boxes must be secured by either a key or combination lock.

Suitable cases/boxes must be of sturdy construction, able to be secured and resistant to tampering.

Suitable cases/boxes are available from the Police Armoury.

Note: Regardless of the types of arms and appointments covered by the CASA Instrument of

Approval, the relevant airline approval letter must be presented to check-in staff for any arms and

appointments to be carried as checked baggage.

3.2

Arms and appointments may be packed together in the same case/box, however, each class of

item must be separated by a suitable partition.

3.3

Arms and appointments may only be checked-in by the travelling officer.

4. Firearms

4.1

These procedures relate only to the .40 S&W Glock pistol models 22, 23, and 27.

4.2

Firearms must be unloaded.

5. Ammunition

5.1

These procedures relate only to ammunition, UN classification 1.4S (UN0012 or UN0014), and

must not include any with explosive or incendiary projectiles.

5.2

Ammunition is limited to a maximum 5kg per travelling officer.

5.3

Ammunition must be packaged in either:

•

its original factory packaging;

•

an ammunition storage case/box/compartment; or

•

loaded in a magazine separate from the firearm.

Ammunition must be secured separately from the firearm or separated with a suitable partition.

Note: In the case of Rex, the 5kg limit for ammunition may include a maximum of two loaded

magazines, with the remainder in the manufacturer’s packaging or police approved containers.

6. Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) sprays

6.1

These procedures relate only to the following OC sprays:

•

First Defence Mark 3 OC canister (for uniformed officers), carried in a pouch on the

appointments belt; and

•

First Defence Mark 6 OC canister (for plain-clothes officers), attached to the belt by a clip.

6.2

OC sprays are limited to a maximum of one 105ml / 3.4 fl oz container per travelling officer.

6.3

OC sprays must be packed with valves protected by covers, to prevent accidental discharge and

packed in such a way that in the event of an inadvertent release the contents are contained within

the checked baggage.

6.4

Multiple OC sprays may not be packed in the same case/box.

7. Tasers (Conducted Electrical Weapon)

7.1

These procedures relate to any Taser model that is currently issued to NSWPF personnel.

7.2

Tasers must be in ‘safe mode’ with the safety switch engaged.

7.3

Tasers must be unloaded and the cartridges must have their protective plastic shipping cradles

installed to prevent accidental deployment.

7.4

Tasers must be placed in their operational holster.

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Carriage of Arms and Appointments on Domestic Aircraft

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7.5

Tasers (in operational holsters) must be packed separately from their cartridge or separated with

suitable partition.

8. Handcuffs

8.1 Handcuffs may only be carried by travelling officers in the aircraft cabin for the purpose of

escorting a prisoner, which must be approved by the relevant airline.

Note: In all cases, the use of handcuffs in the aircraft cabin must also be approved by the captain.

9. Batons

•

No specific procedure - see ‘all arms and appointments’ above.

10. Check-in

10.1

At check-in, travelling officers must speak with a Guest Services Agent / Customer Service Officer

and:

make a written or verbal declaration that all arms and appointments are unloaded and suitably

packed; and

•

present a copy of the relevant airline approval letter.

10.2

Travelling officers will be handed a receipt for each item, along with their boarding pass.

11. Collection

11.1 At the applicable Baggage Services desk, travelling officers must present their checked-baggage

receipt, along with their boarding pass and Police Identification, to collect items.