Snatch squad

A snatch squad is a police riot control tactic where several officers, usually in protective riot gear, rush forwards, sometimes in a flying wedge formation to break through the front of the crowd, to snatch one or more individuals from the riot or demonstration which they are opposing. Their target in the crowd may be a leader or a speaker.

In one British form of snatch squad, 3 or 4 officers rush at a group of violent or disorderly group of people with two of the men carrying batons and the other a shield: the officer with the shield rushes the most violent of the group and force the subject in between the shield and a wall, while the officers with the batons would arrest the others and escort them out of the crowds.

Images

• Police snatch squad who have grabbed a photographer and dragged him over the railings, Seattle, 20 June 2002
• German police snatch squad ready for action (6th image on page)

Other uses

• This link uses "snatch squad" to mean a remote-country rescue squad.
• This link uses "snatch squad" to mean an animal rescue squad.