Special Tactical Contingent
The Special Tactical Contingent (STC; Chinese: 特別戰術小隊), nicknamed the "Raptors" (Chinese: 速龍小隊), commonly known as the Special Tactical Squad (STS), is a specialist riot contingent of the Hong Kong Police Force under the command of the Police Tactical Unit (PTU).
| Special Tactical Contingent | |
|---|---|
| 特別戰術小隊 (Chinese) | |
| Active | September 2014 - present |
| Country | |
| Agency | Hong Kong Police Force |
| Role | Riot control Public security |
| Part of | Police Tactical Unit |
| Common name |
|
| Abbreviation | STC |
| Notables | |
| Significant operation(s) |
|
It was created in September 2014 in response to Occupy Movement 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 STC 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 Contingent 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.