Lyla Lindsey
Australia's police force is a complex network of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, with over 65,000 officers serving across the country. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the primary federal agency, formed in 1979 and tasked with enforcing criminal law and protecting national interests. Each of Australia's six states, the Northern Territory, and the Capital Territory has its own police force, responsible for crime handling in their respective areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the federal police force | Australian Federal Police (AFP) |
| Year of formation | 1979 |
| Number of Australian police officers represented by the Police Federation of Australia (PFA) | More than 65,000 |
| Number of diverse roles in the AFP | 200+ |
| Number of career paths in the AFP | 40 |
| Number of major airports with Aviation Uniform Police (AUP) as the primary law enforcement agency | 9 |
| Number of territories with their own police force | 1 (The Northern Territory) |
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What You'll Learn
Australian Federal Police (AFP)
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the primary federal law enforcement agency in Australia. It was formed on 19 October 1979 through the amalgamation of the former Commonwealth Police and the Australian Capital Territory Police Force. The AFP has a wide mandate to enforce Australian criminal law and protect national interests. It is an independent agency of the Attorney-General's Department, responsible to the Attorney-General and accountable to the Parliament of Australia.
The AFP is responsible for investigating federal offences, with jurisdiction throughout Australia. It provides protective services to federal government properties, personnel, dignitaries, and foreign diplomatic officials, as well as major airports. The AFP also delivers community policing in the Australian Capital Territory and other dependent territories, including Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, and Jervis Bay Territory.
One of the key priorities of the AFP is to prevent, investigate, and disrupt transnational, serious, complex, and organised crime, including terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, child exploitation, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. The AFP plays a lead role in countering terrorism and works closely with other agencies such as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Border Force, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
The AFP also conducts overseas operations and contributes to international peacekeeping efforts. It has a presence in various overseas posts, providing liaison officers, community policing, and support for peacekeeping operations. The AFP has been involved in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Cyprus, East Timor (Timor-Leste), South Sudan, and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The AFP offers over 200 diverse roles across 40 different career paths, providing a range of opportunities for those interested in a career in law enforcement.
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Federal and state enforcement
Australia's police force operates at federal, state, and local levels, with various uniformed 'sworn' law enforcement agencies and 'regulatory' agencies. The federal level consists of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which is the primary federal law enforcement agency in Australia. The AFP was formed in 1979 through the amalgamation of the Commonwealth Police and the Australian Capital Territory Police Force. It is responsible for investigating federal offences, providing protective services to federal properties and personnel, and enforcing laws in external Australian territories. The AFP also contributes to international peacekeeping efforts and has a wide mandate to protect Australia's national interests.
Each of Australia's six states, the Northern Territory, and the Capital Territory has its own police force. These state and territory police forces are responsible for general law enforcement duties within their respective jurisdictions. They handle the majority of crime in their areas, but there are pieces of federal territory, such as airports, that fall under the jurisdiction of the AFP. The Northern Territory Police, for example, employs Aboriginal people as trackers when searching for lost travellers or criminals who have fled into the region.
In addition to the AFP, there are other federal law enforcement agencies with specific mandates. The Australian Border Force, for instance, is responsible for customs, immigration, and border protection. The Australian Taxation Office, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and Australian Securities and Investments Commission focus on economic and financial crimes. The Australian Defence Force Investigative Service handles complex investigations pertaining to the Defence Force Discipline Act.
Local governments may also employ authorised officers, known as council rangers, to enforce local government by-laws and specific state laws within their jurisdiction. These council rangers do not typically have full police powers unless they are sworn in as special constables. Overall, the Police Federation of Australia (PFA) represents over 65,000 Australian police officers across all jurisdictions, indicating a substantial collective size of the country's police forces.
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Local law enforcement
Australia's law enforcement operates at federal, state, and local levels, with various uniformed 'sworn' law enforcement agencies and 'regulatory' agencies. Local law enforcement in Australia is carried out by state police forces, who are responsible to a state government minister, usually the Minister for Police. Each of Australia's six states, its Northern Territory and the Capital Territory, has its own police force. The Northern Territory is the only Australian Territory with its own police force, while the Australian Capital Territory is policed by the Federal Government through the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The AFP is the primary federal law enforcement agency in Australia, formed in 1979 through the amalgamation of the former Commonwealth Police and the Australian Capital Territory Police Force. The AFP has a wide mandate to enforce Australian criminal law and protect national interests. It investigates federal offences, provides protective services to government properties, personnel, and dignitaries, and offers regular law enforcement in external Australian territories. The AFP also has a long tradition of involvement in international peacekeeping and policing, contributing to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, and deploying to neighbouring countries like Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
State police officers and AFP officers routinely carry firearms. Local governments may also employ authorised officers, known as council rangers, to enforce local government by-laws and specific state laws within their jurisdiction. These council rangers do not have full police powers unless sworn in as special constables.
The Police Federation of Australia (PFA) is the national body representing over 65,000 Australian police officers across all jurisdictions, including the Commonwealth.
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Australian Border Force
The Australian Border Force (ABF) is a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Home Affairs. It is responsible for border control, customs, and immigration enforcement, as well as investigations and compliance. The ABF was established on July 1, 2015, through the amalgamation of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service with the immigration and compliance functions of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
The ABF is tasked with protecting Australia's borders, both offshore and onshore. This includes managing the country's Coast Guard and marine law enforcement duties as part of the Maritime Border Command. The ABF also has a Marine Unit, which contributes to the Maritime Border Command and performs marine law enforcement. Additionally, the ABF has a fleet of ships and coastal patrol vessels that support its border protection role. These vessels are staffed by specialists, including Marine Tactical Officers, engineers, and technical officers, who are trained in seamanship, navigation, and boarding operations.
The ABF's scope of work includes the detection and interception of prohibited and restricted goods, for which it utilises detector dogs. The ABF also has a Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), with officers stationed at eight major international airports, responsible for intercepting individuals of national security interest. CTU officers are equipped with firearms and undergo use-of-force training.
The ABF is an active member of the World Customs Organization and is part of Australia's National Intelligence Community. It works closely with other agencies, including the Australian Federal Police, to ensure the security of Australia's borders and the enforcement of customs and immigration laws. As of 2022, the ABF has approximately 5,968 staff across 70 locations, with plans to increase the number of officers authorised to carry firearms to at least 25% by 2020.
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Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the unified military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests. It was established in 1976 to place the separate armed services under a single headquarters. The ADF consists of three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The ADF has a strength of just over 89,000 personnel, including full-time active-duty members and reservists. As of 30 June 2023, it had 57,346 full-time personnel and 32,049 reservists, making it the largest military force in Oceania. The ADF is well-equipped and technologically sophisticated, with defence spending at 2.02% of GDP as of 2024/25.
The ADF's history can be traced back to the early 20th century when the Australian Government established the armed services as separate organisations. In 1901, the Australian colonies federated, and their military forces were amalgamated to form the Australian Army and the Commonwealth Naval Force. A decade later, in 1911, the government established the Royal Australian Navy, which absorbed the Commonwealth Naval Force.
The need for an integrated command structure became more apparent after the Vietnam War, which highlighted inefficient arrangements that hindered military efforts. In 1973, the Secretary of the Department of Defence, Arthur Tange, recommended unifying the separate departments under a single Department of Defence. This led to the establishment of the ADF in 1976, with the aim of increasing operational efficiency and coordination.
Since its establishment, the ADF has participated in various international operations, including the 1991 Gulf War, where Australian personnel were deployed to an active war zone for the first time. The ADF has also contributed to peacekeeping efforts and capacity development in neighbouring countries, such as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.
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Frequently asked questions
The Police Federation of Australia (PFA) represents over 65,000 police officers across the country.
There are police forces at the federal, state, and local levels. Each of Australia's six states, the Northern Territory, and the Capital Territory has its own police force. Additionally, the nation's capital, Canberra, is the site of the Commonwealth Police Force.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the primary federal law enforcement agency. It was formed in 1979 through the amalgamation of the former Commonwealth Police and the Australian Capital Territory Police Force.
