Australian Federal Police

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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.

Contents

[edit] History

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.

[edit] Commissioner

The current AFP Commissioner is Commissioner Michael "Mick" Joseph Keelty, APM.

[edit] Mission

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.

[edit] Roles and functions

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] National

Sworn AFP officers performing national criminal investigation duties (as outlined below) are referred to as "Federal Agents". Federal Agents work in plain clothes and 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:

Federal 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 counter terrorist role has reportedly, however, sparked rivalry and jurisdictional confusion with the organisations with which it is meant to co-operate.

[edit] Protective Service

AFPPS Officers referred to as "Protective Service Officers" (PSOs) do not have the same powers as Police Officers, but they do have powers of arrest under The Australian Federal Police Act 1979. These limited powers reflect their working area which are primarily airports, embassies and Commonwealth Government buildings.

The AFP Protective Service (AFP[PS]), is split into two areas:

  • 1. Protection AND
  • 2. Aviation.

The Australian Federal Police Protective Service is primarily responsible for providing (Protection) static, mobile protection and (Aviation) Counter Terrorism First Response.

PROTECTION

AVIATION

AFPPS Officers have a higher degree of physical skill for the qualification of Advance First Response (AFR) role at all airports for the CTFR function. This includes advance firearms, riot control and room clearance.

The AFPPS is also responsible for the Australian Air Marshal Program or sometimes referred as Air Security Officers (ASO). This role also requires a higher level of fitness and ex-defence or Tactical Police members are normally selected for these positions.

In recent time the Australian Federal police has contracted State and Territory Police officers to perform general duties policing roles at all major airports as part of boosting airport security. These State Police Officers are only on loan from the States to the Federal Government for a contract term of 2 or 3 years.

[edit] Peacekeeping

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.

[edit] Current missions

The AFP seconds police officers from other Australian Police jurisdictions to assist in multi-national and United Nations sanctioned peacekeeping operations. All seconded members become special members of the AFP and are appointed to the following AFP International Deployment Group Ranks:

Senior Sergeant (Three chevrons, crown which is surmounted by laurell leaf) Station Sergeant (Crown surmounted by Laurell Leaf) Superintendent(one star and one crown) Commander (three stars and one crown)

Current Operations are:

In 2007, the APEC Summit hosted in various Australian states and cities including Sydney will have AFP involvement regarding law enforcement and security as world leaders including John Howard, George W Bush and other government and economic leaders will be in attendance.

[edit] See also


Other Australia law agencies:

[edit] Notes

    [edit] External links

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