Australian Federal Police
The
Australian Federal Police (
AFP) is the federal or Commonwealth
police force of
Australia. The organisation was established in
1979 as a body capable of enforcing Commonwealth
criminal law, with the ability to protect Commonwealth and national interests from crime in Australia and overseas. The establishment of the organisation was partly motivated by the
Sydney Hilton Bombing the year prior, which revealed the necessity for a national police force.
The Australian Federal Police was formed on 19 October 1979 by the merging of the
Commonwealth Police, the
Australian Capital Territory Police and the
Federal Bureau of Narcotics [
1]. On 1 July 2004, the
Australian Protective Service was also merged into the AFP and became the AFP Protective Services.
The current AFP Commissioner is Federal Agent
Michael "Mick" Joseph Keelty, APM.
To enforce Commonwealth law and protect Commonwealth and national interests from crime in Australia and overseas while also providing protective services to, for and on behalf of the Commonwealth government and by providing community policing services to the
ACT,
Jervis Bay and Australia's external territories.
The AFP is Australia's international law enforcement and policing representative. It is a member of
Interpol and maintains liaison officers posted in at least 20 countries. The AFP also acts in close co-operation with the
state and territory police forces as part of its domestic responsibilities. In terms of its responsibilities, the AFP is similar to the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police having both national and community policing obligations.
Community policing
The
ACT Police of the AFP, officially referred to as "ACT Policing", provides regular uniformed community policing of the
Australian Capital Territory which includes Australia's capital city
Canberra,
Jervis Bay Territory and all external territories including
Norfolk Island, the
Cocos Islands and
Christmas Island.
Sworn AFP officers based in ACT Policing use the traditional community policing titles/ranks of Constable, Senior Constable, Sergeant, Superintendent, Commander etc.
National
AFP officers performing national duties (as outlined below) are referred to as "Federal Agents". Federal Agents are based in every capital city in Australia and at various overseas liaison posts.
The Australian Federal Police are responsible for enforcing Australia's Commonwealth laws. The priorities of the organisation are set by ministerial direction, and current areas of focus include combating:
*
illicit drug trafficking*
people smuggling*
major fraud*
e-crime*
terrorism*
money laundering *
organised crime*
sexual servitudeFederal Agents also provide close personal protection for
diplomatic representatives and crucial witnesses.
The AFP also hosts the
Australian High Tech Crime Centre (AHTCC) in Canberra.
Its counter-terrorism responsibilities require the organisation to work closely with the
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other like bodies. The AFP's role in investigating the
Bali bombing incident on
12 October,
2002, alongside
Indonesian authorities, significantly enhanced the organisations public profile and led to the perpetrators being convicted in Indonesian courts. The AFP's expanded counterterrorist role has reportedly, however, sparked rivalry and jurisdictional confusion with the organisations with which it is meant to co-operate.
Protective Services
A branch of the AFP, the AFP Protective Service (AFPPS), is primarily responsible for providing static and mobile guarding of:
*the residences of the
Governor-General and
Prime Minister;
*
Parliament House and the office of the Prime Minister;
*sensitive
Defence establishments;
*patrols of and
Counter Terrorist First Response duties at major airports;
*offices and residences of high office holders;
*foreign
diplomatic missions; and
*the
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
AFPPS officers are referred to as "Protective Service Officers" (PSOs) and do not have the same powers as sworn Australian Federal Police officers.
The efficacy of this work was called into question in July 2006 when a student, Stephen Battaglia, spontaneously hugged Prime Minister
John Howard while holding a screwdriver he had been using to repair a boat. While there was no suggestion of intent to harm, and no harm was done, media sources considered Protective Services' failure to prevent the issue to be an embarassment
[Independent Online, July 27 2006]A reflection of the AFP's international obligations is its
peacekeeping role. The AFP's peacekeeping efforts are principally focused on the
Pacific where the organisation assists in the law-enforcing efforts of many sovereign nations.
*
RAMSI *
ECP *
UNAMET/
UNTAET/
UNMISET *
UNFICYP*
Australian Protective Service*
Federal police*
National police*
Federal Bureau of Investigations*
Australian Federal Police home page*
Australian High Tech Crime Centre home page*
Australian Government Online
