page_title: Special Tactical Squad
section_title: Equipment
hierarchical_section_title: Special Tactical Squad / Equipment
caption_attribution_description: dmg ie, my own work
context_page_description: The Special Tactical Squad is a paramilitary task force of the Hong Kong Police Force, being a sub-division of the Police Tactical Unit. It was created in June 2014 to handle protests with its main tasks being crowd control and riot control, including when the PTU suffered from heavy blockade or obstruction. Examples were obstacle removal, conducting arrests, providing first aid, etc. The STS would also conduct observational and command related tasks, to ensure and review the Police Tactical Unit's use of force and tactics are appropriate, to further improve from past events. A report by Amnesty International singled out the Special Tactical Squad and riot police for "the worst abuses" of excessive force during the 2019-20 protests, noting that "almost every arrested person interviewed described being beaten with batons and fists during the arrest, even when they were not resisting and often already restrained," along with multiple hospitalizations.
caption: ASP 21-inch (53 cm) expandable baton in expanded and collapsed state
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