Unified policing at airports
A unified policing model was developed by the AFP in response to key recommendations in the 2005 Wheeler Review into airport security and policing in Australia.
The model enables a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing criminality and terrorist threats in the aviation sector and provides a unified policing presence at eleven major Australian airports.
The eleven airports are located in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The AFP’s unified policing presence comprises:
Airport Police Commanders (APCs)
Airport Police Commanders are in place at all eleven major airports. They are responsible for coordinating and managing the law enforcement teams at airports and liaising with federal and State government and private sector organisations as required.
Police aviation liaison officers (PALOs)
Police aviation liaison officers are conduits between the AFP and aviation industry partners and stakeholders for all matters relating to law enforcement and security issues within the aviation environment. They support the Airport Police Commanders in all major airports.
Joint airport intelligence group (JAIG)
JAIGs collect, collate, analyse and disseminate information and intelligence relating to both criminal activity and threats to security in the airport environment. JAIGs are made up of representatives from the AFP, Customs and local State/Territory police. The Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Australian Crime Commission, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Department of Immigration and Citizenship also second staff to these teams as necessary.
Counter-terrorist first response capability
Protective service officers, bomb appraisal officers and firearms and explosives detection teams at major airports perform the counter-terrorist first response role. Bomb appraisal officers provide technical analysis of suspicious items to determine any potential danger. Firearms and explosive detection teams, each consisting of one dog and its handler, provide highly mobile and unobtrusive explosive detection screening. Protective service officers work alongside airport uniform police to deter and respond to threats of terrorism.
Airport uniform police
Airport uniformed police at each of the major airports to provide a permanent community policing presence. These officers provide immediate response to policing matters within the airport precincts.
Joint airport investigation team (JAIT)
JAITs investigate serious and organised crime in the aviation sector, focusing on the eleven major airports. These teams are based at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth international airports and can be deployed to any of the major airports. JAITs include representatives from the AFP, Customs and State and Territory police.
These teams work together within the airport environment to provide a visible presence to help reassure the travelling public and prevent criminal and terrorist-related activity within the airport.