Special Reconnaissance Regiment
Another meaning of "SRR" is "Search and Rescue Region."The
Special Reconnaissance Regiment (
SRR) is a
Special Forces Regiment of the
British Army, specialising in
Counter-Terrorist surveillance. It became operational on
6 April 2005, and forms part of the
United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) alongside the
Special Air Service (SAS) and
Special Boat Service (SBS).
Based in
Hereford, the SRR is a British Army unit involved in surveillance operations, particularly against those suspected of engaging in terrorism and other threats to national security and stability. This is the newest Special Forces Regiment in the British Army, created by then
Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon. Announced in
2004, it was formed in response to a need for greater 'force against terrorism'. Unlike some other areas of the British Army, it recruits members of both genders. Its
cap badge consists of the sword seen in the
SAS and
SBS badges, point up, behind a
Corinthian helmet and a scroll inscribed
RECONNAISSANCE.
Few details are publicly available, but it is believed that the unit is less than half the size of the SAS, and that it is in effect the latest incarnation of
14 Intelligence Company (a.k.a. the Joint Communications Unit (Northern Ireland) (JCU(NI)) that has performed a similar role against
Irish Republican and
Loyalist terrorism in
Northern Ireland since the 1970s. The Regiment's primary purpose is to free the SAS and SBS from surveillance duties and allow them to engage in the "hard end" of missions.
Personnel from the
Intelligence Corps,
Special Air Service,
JCU(NI),
Special Branch and other civilian and military units and resources were used until regular army selection was started.
Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes
On
4 August 2005,
The Guardian reported that the Special Reconnaissance Regiment were involved in the surveillance operation that led to the shooting of
Jean Charles de Menezes in the wake of the
7 July London bombings. The
Whitehall sources who provided the story stressed that the SRR were involved only in intelligence-gathering, and that Mr Menezes was shot by armed police, not by members of the SRR or other soldiers.
Defence sources refused to comment on speculation that SRR soldiers were among the plain-clothes officers who followed Mr Menezes on to the bus to
Stockwell tube station.
Iraq arrests
On
19 September 2005,
The Scotsman reported that two Special Reconnaissance Regiment operatives caught by Iraqi police in
Basra were dressed as local Arabs and engaged in a gunfight with Basra Police, killing two Iraqi Police officers. The two British men reportedly had a large collection of weapons and bomb-making equipment.
British forces destroyed the Basra central jail in a rescue attempt that led to riots. The SRR operatives were later reportedly taken from a house in Basra. Iraq's government expressed outrage.
*
United Kingdom Special Forces*
Ministry of Defence announcement regarding creation*
Guardian report on the creation of the SRR, 6 April 2005*
Sunday Telegraph article reporting rumours of new unit, 25 July 2004*
Guardian report on SRR involvement in Menezes shooting, 4 August 2005
