RCMP officers in Nova Scotia now have two emergency response vehicles to assist them in high-risk situations.

RCMP Supt. Frank Foran and Justice Minister Ross Landry unveiled the Tactical Armoured Vehicle (TAV) and Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) Tuesday morning in Halifax.

They are the first vehicles of their kind in Nova Scotia.

“The Tactical Armoured Vehicle is the result of years of research and development and input from our contract partners such as the Department of Justice,” said Foran during the news conference. “We can get closer to the danger and remove those persons that may be in jeopardy, while minimizing the risk to our officers.”

The vehicles will be used by the province’s emergency response team during situations such as armed standoffs, barricaded persons, hostage takings and search and rescue operations.

Police said the TAV is capable of operating in many types of terrain and climates and provides a 360 degree observation tower, as well as advanced ballistic and explosive protection.

“The nature of crime is changing and police tactics and tools also need to change to keep fighting crime effectively,” said Landry Tuesday.

Wayne Knapman, an RCMP corporal and a member of the emergency response team, echoed that sentiment.

“They’ve been needed for a long time,” he said. “The way policing has changed and evolved, there’s a lot more risk to our officers, so this provides us with some assets that will make it safer for our officers.”

Police say the 10-metre boat is the only one of its kind in Atlantic Canada and is capable of marine intervention in the rough waters off Nova Scotia’s coast.

“Criminal activity is not limited to land and it’s important that we have the ability to respond to events on the water,” said Foran.

Knapman said the boat will allow his team to travel further distances for longer periods of time.

“Our previous boats that we’ve used, by the time we got to where we needed to do the job our members were exhausted and not able to do the job in the safest and most professional manner that we could,” he said.  

The provincial government funded 70 per cent of the vehicles while the federal government covered the rest.

In July, the RCMP in Ottawa announced the delivery of 18 TAVs across Canada to be used by emergency response teams as their primary support vehicle when responding to calls.

Landry said the vehicles will also be made available to municipal police if they are needed.