NSW Labor promises counter-terrorism funding after it emerges police lacked tactical van during Martin Place siege

Police negotiators dispatched to the Martin Place siege were forced to operate from a nearby Leagues club because their purpose-built command van was sidelined for minor damage, including a flat tyre.

The specialist police tactical van has sat idle in storage for the past five years after being damaged in a storm, News Corp has reported.

Because the vehicle was offline, police negotiators were forced to use the nearby NSW Leagues Club as they attempted to deal with the Lindt Café gunman Man Haron Monis in December last year.

The issue has been raised in talks between the NSW Police Force and the NSW Opposition, which is expected to unveil a $10.7 million counter-terrorism funding package to assist law enforcement today.

Labor has promised to buy a new hostage negotiations mobile headquarters to the tune of $400,000, if elected at next month’s election.

A police source told News Corp a hostage negotiation van was critical to give officers privacy.

“You don’t want people rushing in during critical negotiations and you need proper -recording facilities,” the source said.

The van, which was purchased almost a decade ago, was damaged in a storm and was reportedly hit by lightning.

The Opposition also wants police recruits to undergo specialised “active shooter” training to be able to better identify and respond to situations, such as the Martin Place siege, according to News Corp.