Bishop backs new NSW police terror measure

The foreign minster has responded to reports NSW Police have upgraded their terrorist response policy to `shoot first' from `contain and negotiate'.

Australian police forces need all the powers and resources they can get to ensure the community is safe from terrorist attacks, the foreign minister says.

Julie Bishop was responding to reports NSW Police have upgraded their response policy to `shoot first' from `contain and negotiate'.

"These brutal terrorists do not negotiate," she told Seven Network from Manila on Tuesday.

The NSW police action comes after the terror attacks in Paris on the weekend that killed at least 129 people and amid ongoing concern across Australia that a similar attack could be carried out here.

"I believe that Australian law enforcement authorities need all of the powers that they can to ensure that Australians can be kept safe," Ms Bishop said.

Counter-terrorism units have foiled several potential terrorist attacks on Australian soil in recent times.

Acting Commissioner Nick Kaldas said the way to tackle terrorist attacks has changed.

"What we have had for the past two decades is a philosophical approach of containing an incident and negotiating our way out of it," he told 2UE radio on Tuesday.

"We are at a point now where the ground has shifted, things have changed.

"There may be occasions where the police need to move forward rather than simply contain a place and negotiate with people who - as can be seen in France - won't negotiate."


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Source: AAP



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