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The Australian Federal Police is the primary law-enforcement agency at the 10 major Australian airports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Law-enforcement in Australia's aviation environment includes deterring, preventing and responding to threats of terror, investigating serious and organised crime in the aviation sector and performing a uniformed policing role.
AFP activities in the aviation environment include:
- targeting organised crime in the air stream
- deterring acts of terrorism
- providing a uniformed policing presence
- providing first response to acts of terrorism and emergency incidents
- collecting and analysing aviation intelligence
- conducting investigations.
The AFP works closely with State and Territory police services, Commonwealth agencies, airport operators and airlines to coordinate action against terrorist and other criminal threats to Australian aviation safety and security. This may include working closely with other areas of the AFP such as the AFP Operations Coordination Centre; Intelligence; Protection; Serious & Organised Crime; and Crime Operations.
Unified Policing Model
A Unified Policing Model (UPM) was developed by the Australian Federal Police in response to key recommendations in the 2005 Wheeler Review of airport security and policing in Australia.
The UPM model enables a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing criminality and terrorist threats in the aviation sector and provides a unified policing presence at the 10 major Australian airports.
The 10 major airports are located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Recommendations impacting the Unified Policing Model
In January 2009, the Commonwealth Government commissioned Mr Roger Beale AO to conduct an audit of policing in Australia. The audit was established to examine and report on Commonwealth law enforcement arrangements including the AFP's capabilities to provide for current and future demands.
On 30 June 2009, Mr Beale presented his findings in a report titled New Realities: National Policing in the 21st Century (the report) to the Minister for Home Affairs. The report was considered by Government and in December 2009, the Government has announced its acceptance of the majority of the reports recommendations. Significantly, the Government announced its intention to move forward with significant reforms to the AFP's funding arrangements and to the policing arrangements at Australia's major airports.
The report made eight recommendations relating to the Aviation function which are detailed within the report. In response the Government determined to transition from the UPM to the 'All-In' model whereby:
- the Commonwealth assumes responsibility for staffing nationally coordinated airport security and policing services
- the roles currently performed by State and Territory Police and AFP Protective Service Officers, will transition to an AFP sworn workforce over the next three to five years
- the Counter Terrorist First Response function is integrated into the new model of aviation security and policing.
'All-In' Model and Roles
The AFP's 'All-In' model comprises of:
Airport Police Commanders
Airport Police Commanders (APCs) are in place at all 10 major airports. They are responsible for the coordinated command and control of aviation security and policing activities at the 10 airports in partnership with federal and State government agencies and private sector organisations as required.
Airport Uniformed Operations Policing
Airport Uniformed Operations Policing (AUOP) officers provide a uniformed policing and counter terrorist first response presence at the 10 major Australian airports; Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Canine teams work in conjunction with other elements of the AUOP to deliver a coordinated, highly visible law enforcement capability to detect, deter and mitigate threats to our aviation environment. Find out more...
Air Security Officers
Air Security Officers (ASOs) are specially trained AFP officers responsible for the containment or resolution of high-risk security incidents on Australian domestic and international flights. ASOs maintain an armed in-flight response and resolution capacity in the event of an attack. Find out more...
Joint Airport Intelligence Group
Joint Airport Intelligence Groups (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; Australian Customs and Border Protection Service; and local State or Territory police. The Department of Infrastructure and Transport; the Australian Crime Commission; Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service; the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation also provide staff to these teams as necessary. Find out more...
Joint Airport Investigation Team
Joint Airport Investigation Teams (JAITs) investigate serious and organised crime in the aviation sector, focusing on the 10 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, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and State and Territory police.
These teams work together within the airport environment to help reassure the travelling public and prevent criminal and terrorist-related activity within the airport. Find out more...
Crime Prevention Liaison Officers
Crime Prevention Liaison Officers (CPLOs) act as 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.
Regional Rapid Deployment Teams
Regional Rapid Deployment Teams (RRDTs) deliver the AFP's Counter Terrorist First Response function at Australia's regional airports. RRDTs provide a highly visible presence by deploying to regional Australian airports, responding to emerging situations and conducting airside and landside patrols. Find out more...
131 AFP (237)
If you require a police presence at an airport, or wish to report an incident or provide information, please call the AFP on 131 AFP (131 237).
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