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. 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.

Contents

1 History
2 Commissioner
3 Mission
4 Roles and functions
5 Community Policing
6 Ranks
7 National
8 Protective Services
9 Peacekeeping
10 Current missions
11 See also
12 External links

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 [link]. On 1 July 2004, the Australian Protective Service was also merged into the AFP and became the AFP Protective Services.

Commissioner

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

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 other external territories.

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 it's 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.

Ranks

Rank	Insignia
Constable
Senior Constable
Sergeant
Senior Sergeant
Inspector
Chief Inspector
Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Commander
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner (Chief Officer ACT)
Deputy Commissioner
Commissioner

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:

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 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;
The [Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation]; and
Major galleries and museums.

AFPPS officers are referred to as "Protective Service Officers" (PSOs) and do not have the same powers as sworn Australian Federal Police officers.

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.

Current missions

RAMSI
ECP
UNAMET/UNTAET/UNMISET
UNFICYP

External links

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