Police and emergency services on the Gold Coast are using armoured cars, bomb robots and drones to train for a worst-case scenario during the Commonwealth Games in April.

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said emergency services were being tested in real time, and staff have been told to act like they really are responding to a disaster.

“We are picking something that would be the worst possible thing that could happen during the Games,” he said.

While Mr Gollschewski would not give away the exact nature of the fictional disaster, he said it would be a catastrophic event.

“You can look around the world and see the sorts of things that happen that really, really confront communities and that is the sort of thing we are talking about,” he said.

Emergency services taking part in the two-day drill include special tactical police units, paramedics, firefighters, Gold Coast City Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Paramedics on bicycles will act as first responders to beat the expected heavy traffic. Photo: ABC/ Damien Larkins

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games chairman Peter Beattie said the exercise was a crucial part of the planning process for security.

Special tactical units and firefighters are taking part in the exercise. Photo: ABC/ Damien Larkins

“As you know, we sold a lot of tickets to mums and dads and children, families, on the basis they would be safe at these Games,” he said.

“You can’t give an absolute guarantee but what we can do is be as prepared as possible.”

Queensland Health and Ambulance Services Minister Steven Miles said the event was testing how well the different agencies worked together.

“It feels like these Games have been a long time coming and of course they have, that entire time our emergency services, our police have been working together to make sure these Games isn’t just a great show, that it is safe and secure,” he said.

The training exercise will include police working from an armoured car, bomb robots and drones, as well as paramedics on bicycles.

-ABC