LECP achievements
Since its establishment in 1997, the AFP's Law Enforcement Cooperation Program (LECP) has primarily focused on building partnerships with agencies in the Asia-Pacific region. However, it also delivers program activities around the world.
Current crime trends suggest the Asia-Pacific region should remain the LECP's main focus, but this is under constant review.
Amongst the LECP's most outstanding achievements are:
- The establishment of Transnational Crime Teams (TNCTs) in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. TNCTs are key investigative agencies for all transnational crime activities within their jurisdictions. They are staffed by local law enforcement personnel who are mentored and supported by AFP team leaders.
- A joint LECP/AusAID funded project that enhances the capacity of the Indonesian National Police to manage transnational crimes and counter-terrorism. This project focuses on the development of a Transnational Crime Centre in Jakarta and the constant improvement of Indonesia's law enforcement intelligence capacity.
- The establishment and continuing development of the Pacific Transnational Crime Network. Transnational Crime Units (TCUs) are now operational in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. Further are being considered for other Pacific Island nations.
- The establishment of the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC). Based in Fiji, the PTCCC will coordinate the flow of information between TCUs and foreign law enforcement agencies. An AFP adviser has been deployed to Suva to develop the centre.
- The establishment of a Law Enforcement Training Coordination Officer in the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (Suva) to:
- coordinate law enforcement training throughout the region
- introduce a law enforcement training package that is certified and accredited by key stakeholders such as the University of the South Pacific and is of particular relevance to the Pacific region
- raise the training capacity within the region by the qualification of Pacific law enforcement training personnel.
- coordinate law enforcement training throughout the region
- Provision of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) training and air/ground portable DVI laboratories and equipment to Indonesia and Singapore. Other countries in Asia and the Pacific will received the same training and equipment in 2006. The program is designed to provide officers with the skills and relevant practical international DVI standards, protocols and procedures. Each portable laboratory has the capacity to deal with a mass casualty incident involving up to 200 victims.
Further information about the activities of LECP and the AFP International Deployment Group can be found within the Australian Federal Police Annual Report.