The exercise incorporates updated tactics in the use of firearms and more strenuous fitness regimen for the four EU KE platoons.

According to Senior Inspector Alex Chung, the architect of the new training initiative, the objective is to enhance team building within the unit, whilst at the same time revising firearms tactics for an environment which an EU Car Crew can expect to encounter during their day-to-day duties.

Using the "Professional Physical Ability Test" course of the Police Training School as the yardstick, Mr Chung added, several additional fitness features were developed for the new EU exercise known as "Tactics and Physical Training (TPT)".

Mr Chung said the development of the exercise also involved close collaboration with the in-house Firearms and Tactics Instructor, and Physical Training Instructor cadre officers serving in the unit.

The first two TPT sessions were successfully conducted at the PTS between December last year and February, involving in each session 10 small teams, each of which simulated a full EU car crew.

The course requires each team to run for about one kilometre, climb over concrete obstacles and high walls, pass through hanging-tyre obstacles, crawl under rope mesh, tackle staircase structures and carry one team player in a 30-metre run.

On tactics, officers wearing bullet resistant vests have to practise skills in moving forward at high-risk premises, in situations for reloading revolvers, in staircase searches and physical removal of persons.

"It takes about 15 minutes on average to complete each exercise and the feedback from the two platoons, which had received the training, is very positive," Mr Chung said.

He added that the TPT sessions would be incorporated as part of the training process, held every six months for all the platoons.