Specialna Enota Policije

Specialna Enota Policije (SEP) (English: Special Police Unit) is the police tactical unit of the Slovenian National Police Force.[5] SEP is utilised for counter-terrorism and other high-risk tasks that are too dangerous or too difficult for regular police units.

For other uses of "SEP", see SEP (disambiguation).
Specialna Enota Policije
Active1 March 1973 – present[1]
CountrySlovenia
AgencySlovenian National Police Force
TypePolice tactical unit
RoleCounter terrorism
Law enforcement
Part ofPolice Specialities Directorate[2]
Common nameRed Panthers[3]
AbbreviationSEP
Structure
Officers88[4]

History

The establishment of the first unit started in 1973 as a direct response to the hostage crisis at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and the infiltration of the armed terrorist groups inside the Yugoslav territory in the same year.[3][6]

After the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, the unit continues with performing the tasks and missions it was established for.

Functions
SEP exercise in 2011

Selection and training

The candidates who want to enter this special unit must be in service at least six and a half years. They also need a good rating of their work. Special knowledge like martial arts, shooting, skiing, etc. are also welcome.

Then the candidates are medically examined and then they need to pass various psychological and physical tests. If the candidate passes these tests he is sent to the unit for seven months where his basic training begins. In the third month, candidates face a 14-day test in which they are pushed to their physical and psychological limits. After the completed training a candidate is accepted to the unit. He must then complete a specialization training for a specific speciality he will perform in the unit (sniper, diver, driver, dog-handler, etc.).

Unit organisation

SEP is under command of Police Specialities Directorate, under General Police Directorate.[2] SEP is organised into three sections:

  • Command plans and controls the work of the whole detachment.
  • Operational Activity Section performs direct operational and intervention assignments.[2]
  • Operational Support Section performs logistical and expert support for operational tasks and training.[2]
  • Bomb Disposal Section performs Bomb disposal tasks, bomb investigation tasks and other work with involving explosives.[2]

Common weaponry

Armored vehicles
  • 4× BOV-M
  • 2x HMV SURVIVOR 1

References
  1. "Zgodovina". Slovenian Police (in Slovenian). Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  2. "Police Specialities Directorate". Slovenian Police. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  3. "Specialno enoto policije imamo v Sloveniji že 40 let (VIDEO)". Siol.net (in Slovenian). 22 May 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  4. "About the Police". Slovenian Police. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  5. "Specialna enota". Slovenian Police (in Slovenian). Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  6. Hacler, Tina (22 March 2013). "Foto: Policijski specialci - najprej znoj in kri, nato zvestoba do groba". Radiotelevizija Slovenija (in Slovenian). Retrieved 15 October 2018.

Further reading
  • Tomšič, Matjaž (2013). Specialna enota (PDF) (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia, Police. ISBN 9789616797160. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  • "zurjeni za pomoč, a tudi za udarnost in ostrino!" (PDF). Varnost (in Slovenian) (January-March ed.). Ljubljana: Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia. 2013. pp. 4–11. ISSN 2232-318X. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
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