Australian Federal Police

Not to be confused with Federal Police (Austria).
"Australian Police" redirects here. For a general overview of policing in Australia, see Law enforcement in Australia.

Australian Federal Police
Badge of the Australian Federal Police
Badge of the Australian Federal Police
Flag of the Australian Federal Police
Flag of the Australian Federal Police
AbbreviationAFP
Agency overview
Formed1979; 45 years ago (1979)
Preceding agencies
Employees7,077 (2022–2023)[1]
VolunteersSmall numbers for non-operations related activity.
Annual budgetA$1.73 billion (2022–2023)[1]
Legal personalityPolice force
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyAustralia
Operations jurisdictionAustralia
Governing bodyGovernment of Australia
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersEdmund Barton Building, Canberra
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Functions
11
  • Counter Terrorism
  • Protection Operations
  • Organised Crime and Cyber
  • Crime Operations
  • International Operations
  • Border Investigations
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Specialist Operations
  • Support Capability
  • Australian Institute of Police Management
  • ACT Policing
Offices
9
  • Adelaide Office
  • Brisbane Office
  • Darwin Office
  • Hobart Office
  • Melbourne Office
  • Perth Office
  • Sydney Office
  • Cairns Office
  • Winchester Centre, ACT
Website
www.afp.gov.au Edit this at Wikidata
The Australian Federal Police, while a federal agency, provides policing to dependent Australian (on and offshore) Commonwealth Territories.
Former Australian Federal Police Headquarters

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the principal federal law enforcement agency of the Australian Government with the unique role of investigating crime and protecting the national security of the Commonwealth of Australia. The AFP is an independent agency of the Attorney-General's Department and is responsible to the Attorney-General and accountable to the Parliament of Australia.[2] As of October 2019 the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police is Reece Kershaw, formerly the Northern Territory Police Commissioner.[3][4]

The AFP has a focus on preventing, investigating and disrupting transnational, serious, complex and organised crime including terrorism and violent extremism, cybercrime, child exploitation, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. The AFP is also responsible for delivering community policing in the Australian Capital Territory through ACT Policing and to other dependent territories, providing protective security in major airports and close protection for dignitaries including the prime minister of Australia and foreign diplomatic missions, delivering law enforcement training for Asia-Pacific partner agencies, acting as Australia's international law enforcement and policing representative, and contributing to United Nations peacekeeping around the world. The AFP is also a member of the National Intelligence Community and works closely with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Border Force, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

  1. ^ a b "Corporate Plan 2022–23" (PDF). Australian Federal Police. 2022.
  2. ^ Agency, Digital Transformation. "Australian Federal Police | directory.gov.au". directory.gov.au. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  3. ^ James, Felicity (24 July 2019). "Australia's new police commissioner: Who is Reece Kershaw?". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Reece Kershaw to be sworn in as AFP Commissioner" (Press release). Australian Federal Police. 2 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2020.