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, and 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 of a national police.

Commissioner

The current AFP Commissioner is F/A Michael Joseph Keelty, APM.

Mission

Roles and Functions

The AFP is Australia's international law enforcement and policing representative. It is a member of Interpol and maintains extensive and intimate liasons with the national police forces of 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.

The AFP serves as the normal police force of the Australian Capital Territory (and Jervis Bay Territory) and all external territories including Norfolk Island, the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island. They also guard Commonwealth facilities around Australia and the world.

The federal police are responsible for enforcing 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 servitude

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.

A branch of the AFP, the AFP Protective Service, is primarily responsible for protecting diplomatic representatives and crucial witnesses, but also:

• the residences of the Governor-General and Prime Minister;
• Parliament House and the office of the Prime Minister;
• sensitive Defence establishments;
• Counter Terrorist First Response at major airports;
• offices and residences of high office holders;
• foreign diplomatic missions; and
• the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation .

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

• Australian Federal Police home page
• Australian Government Online