A day in the life of the Public Order Response Team

Now 294 members strong, it isn’t unusual for PORT to deploy a portion of the team beyond metropolitan boundaries.

In fact, for PORT Acting Senior Sergeant Rebecca Wells, it’s just a regular day at the office.

“The unit’s core function is to provide support to local police managing large protests, demonstrations or events where people are at risk of being harmed," A/Sen Sgt Wells said.

"But when we’re not doing that, we’re out keeping the community safe – just like any other police officer.

“So when police in a regional area like Ballarat need help with something that’s on their plate, sending members out there to assist is a no-brainer.”

Arriving just before 10am, PORT stopped at Ballarat Police Station to meet and check in with local police.

Today, they will be hitting the streets to support officers with their regular duties, while also participating in Operation Clash – a coordinated effort to locate and arrest known high-risk offenders.

Wanted for crimes such as drug trafficking, assault, and family violence, these offenders don’t want to be found — but that’s where PORT comes in.

“Local police in locations like Ballarat are often busy managing all of the things that come with policing a regional city,” said A/Sen Sgt Wells.

“So being able to send our members in to provide them with extra resources is a gamechanger.

“It allows us to help them bring offenders into custody as quickly and safely as possible, for the benefit of both the community and local officers.”

Over the course of PORT’s day in Ballarat, the unit made several major arrests and interacted with members of the community from all parts of town.

But even after saying goodbye to local officers and returning to Melbourne, PORT wasn’t off the clock.

As members who started work in the morning began to pack up and finish for the day, those rostered to work the afternoon shift rolled in.

Unlike the morning crew, PORT members working the afternoon shift didn’t have to stray far from the Victoria Police Centre, having been tasked with patrolling Melbourne's CBD.

But while the job is close to PORT’s home base, policing in the city has its own unique challenges – including large crowds, busy roads and poor behaviour after dark.

Starting in some of Melbourne’s busiest locations like Swanston Street and Flinders Street Station, PORT members kept a watchful eye on the community, both from their vehicles and on foot.

As the sun went down, PORT assisted local police with roadside drug and alcohol testing, conducting preliminary breath tests on Russell Street.

“It just goes to show that PORT members wear many hats,” A/Sen Sgt Wells said.

“One minute, we’ll be keeping you safe during a public demonstration or sporting match, and the next, we’ll be helping with an arrest, keeping an eye on the roads, or providing support to members attending a natural disaster.

“No matter what it is that we’re called to assist with, we’re there to do our bit.”

Learn more about PORT and other teams within the Transit and Public Safety Command.

Editorial Lane Mihaljevic
Photography Jesse Wray-McCann