Our work overseas

International context

The global criminal environment today is complex, borderless and fluid. With criminal groups active at local, national and international levels, investigations are increasingly likely to have an international context.

The AFP cooperates with other Australian Government departments domestically and abroad to ensure a whole-of-government approach to fighting crime at its source.

The three key elements to the AFP's role internationally are:

Collaboration – brokering collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to drive investigations and support bilateral or multi-lateral cooperation
Intelligence gathering – collection and exchange of criminal intelligence in support of international law enforcement efforts
Capacity building – enhancing the capacity and the capability of international law enforcement agencies to combat transnational crime.

AFP Corporate Plan

View the AFP's Corporate Plan.

Information for Australian law enforcement agencies

The AFP is the first point of contact for Australian, State and Territory law enforcement agencies in relation to:

overseas law enforcement enquiries:
- around the world
- across all crime types ranging from transnational crimes to routine enquiries
international cooperation
international coordination arrangements.

The AFP sources information from:

the AFP's International Operations
INTERPOL
Europol.

Who do I contact?

The table below shows you who to contact. Click on the links to find more detailed information.

International Operations

For:

Police to police assistance for investigations where the criminality overseas may involve the death penalty
Police to police assistance for investigations where you require a law enforcement officer to undertake operational activity on your behalf. For example, statements
Mutual assistance requests and extradition
Officers travelling internationally for official duties

During business hours: (Canberra local time): International Operations Teams

After hours urgent or time critical matters: AFP National Operations State Service Centre (NOSSC)

INTERPOL

Contact for transactional enquiries on a police-to-police basis such as:

Criminal history checks
Missing persons overseas
Background enquiries such as habitation checks and license details
Subscriber checks
Travel movements checks
Countries where the AFP does not have a permanent presence

24 hours, 7 days: INTERPOL

Europol

Intelligence and assistance with investigations relating to Europe and third member states.

During business hours: (Canberra local time): Europol Desk

How to make a request

Before you send your request to the AFP, read the information on:

Send your request to the AFP by email or signed document which is attached to an email. Your request should include:

Detailed background covering:
- the offence
- offenders/suspects
- victims
- sufficient justification to enable the AFP to seek the assistance foreign law enforcement agencies
The specific action required by the AFP Liaison Officer and foreign law enforcement agency
A caveat that the information can be released to the foreign law enforcement agency
That it has been endorsed by a Commissioned Officer or equivalent.
For death penalty matters:
- approval or acknowledgement from a Commissioned Officer or equivalent that they are aware of the death penalty implications
- a completed death penalty release form available on request from io-operational-engagement-team@afp.gov.au
Any other information that you think is relevant.

Note that some requests may require additional paper work to be completed prior to the request being sent.

Information for members of the public

When Australian nationals are victims of crime overseas, consular officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are available to provide consular support to the victim and/or their family. Information on the consular services available to Australian travellers, including the limits to this assistance, is provided in the Consular Services Charter available on the Smartraveller website.

The AFP has no authority to carry out inquiries in a foreign country without approval through official government channels.

The AFP does not liaise with foreign law enforcement agencies on behalf of members of the Australian public. If you think you need to contact a law enforcement agency in another country, you should talk to your local police.

In some circumstances the AFP may be requested to assist a foreign country with investigations involving an Australian national(s). There are also offences in Australian legislation that have an extraterritorial application.

In both of these circumstances the investigation of offences by the AFP requires the cooperation and invitation of the foreign country concerned.