Prepare SOPs on response to tackle crisis: Delhi top cop to units in wake of Bondi Beach terror attack

According to a senior police officer, the new protocol will detail unitwise responsibilities for district police, PCR units, SWAT teams, specialised units of the Special Cell and crime branch, traffic units, and the Special Branch unit.

“Under this SOP, they will define the exact work distribution; who takes initial command at the scene and how command is transferred when specialised units arrive; how perimeter security and crowd control are to be enforced in real time, communication channels between field units, control rooms, and senior leadership to avoid overlaps,” the officer said.

The emphasis, according to officers, is on seamless integration so that multiple units can plug into the same operation without delay or duplication of effort. “The Special CP (Operations) has started checking the data of PCR units and outside paramilitary forces for the deployment in such a situation. He is planning to conduct joint exercises with paramilitary forces and disaster management teams for smooth coordination… also, the mass casualty drills in malls, metro stations, markets and major public venues,” the officer added.

At least 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured after two suspected gunmen, Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, opened fire at a crowd that had gathered at Bondi Beach to celebrate Jewish festival Hanukkah on December 14. After the incident, Delhi Police had stepped up security across Israeli and Jewish establishments in the national capital following an intelligence warning of possible terror threats during the ongoing Hanukkah festival, observed from December 14 to 21.

In a recent meeting with all Special CPs, where Golchha issued the directions, he also told the Special CP (Training) to prepare some small videos on preserving the scene of crime, and the expected response of their force during such incidents.

The directions were issued by Golchha and the move, officers said, is aimed at ensuring that the first minutes of any such incident are handled with maximum coordination and minimum confusion.

“Anyone cannot copy-paste another country’s model, but we should always draw lessons on response time, neutralising the attacker, crowd communication, and post-incident investigation. We have been asked to review, refine and institutionalise our response protocols so that every unit, from the local police station to specialised commandos of SWAT, knows exactly what to do with a similar situation. Our objective is simple, if a Bondi-like situation ever arises here, we must be able to move from chaos to control in the shortest possible time, with clear accountability at every level,” an officer said.

Apart from this, the Special CP (Training) is planning to map all the operational requirements into regular and scenario-based training modules.

“He is expected to include simulated active shooter periodic refresher courses for the beat police staff, station staff and first responders on rapid assessment and decision-making in the crisis situation,” the senior officer said. They have already conducted mock drills, the officer said, adding that the idea now is to build Bondi-type scenarios explicitly into their training design.

Sources said both the Special CPs have been asked to submit the draft protocol within a time-bound period, after which it will be examined at the Delhi Police headquarters. “Once approved, it will be circulated to all districts and units, and incorporated into both classroom teaching at police training institutes and field-level exercises,” the officer added.

In September, against the backdrop of Gen Z protests in Nepal, which spiralled into violence and forced a regime change, Golchha had directed three units — the Intelligence branch, Operations unit and Delhi Armed Police — to draft a contingency action plan to deal with a similar situation if it were to arise in the national capital.