The Technical Equipment of the Specialized Tactical Units of the Police – Strength or Vulnerability?

Abstract

Public security is an everyday challenge for the States and for the respective Law Enforcement Agencies. Terrorism is, unfortunately, already a global phenomenon and is endangering innocent people not only in conflict or post-conflict areas but also in the developed countries. This development was possible because of the initiation of several conflicts in the last years, conflicts that caused a massive wave of illegal migration especially towards Europe. It’s a quite plausible fact that, among people in need, were infiltrated persons with extreme religious views, ready to spread terror and fear right in the heart of the civilized world. Add to this the radicalized citizens of the European countries that joined terrorist groups and the danger that these individuals could represent when returning to Europe. To deal with these challenges, Europe needs a strong and competent Law Enforcement System. A significant part of this system is represented by the Specialized Tactical Units. Their professionalism, their level of performances and their capabilities are significantly influenced by the quality and the quantity of the technical equipment allocated to these units. There could be no performances on the “battlefield” if the warriors were to ride wooden horses and to fight with toy-guns. It is up to the entitled managers to decide if the technical equipment of the specialized tactical units of the police will be a strength or a vulnerability factor for the law enforcement system.

Keywords: Security; Terrorism; Challenges; Law Enforcement; Specialized; Tactical; Technical; Strength; Vulnerability

JEL Classification: A10