WHY WAS THE AFP ESTABLISHED

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the national police force of Australia. It is responsible for policing matters of national significance, including terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking. The AFP was established in 1979 after a series of high-profile crimes that highlighted the need for a national police force.

A Brief History of the AFP

The AFP was established in 1979 by the Australian Federal Police Act. The act was passed by the Australian Parliament in response to a series of high-profile crimes that had occurred in the previous decade. These crimes included the kidnapping and murder of a Sydney schoolgirl, the bombing of the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, and the assassination of the Australian ambassador to Sweden.

The AFP was established to provide a national police force that could investigate and prosecute these types of crimes. The AFP was also given the responsibility of policing matters of national security, such as terrorism and foreign espionage.

The AFP’s Structure and Organization

The AFP is headquartered in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The AFP is divided into four branches:

• The National Operations Branch is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes of national significance.
• The State and Territory Operations Branch is responsible for policing in the Australian states and territories.
• The International Operations Branch is responsible for policing Australia's international interests.
• The Corporate Services Branch is responsible for the AFP's administrative and financial operations.

The AFP is headed by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. The Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General of Australia on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

The AFP’s Powers and Responsibilities

The AFP has a wide range of powers and responsibilities, including the power to:

• Investigate and prosecute crimes of national significance, including terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking.
• Police matters of national security, such as terrorism and foreign espionage.
• Conduct security assessments of individuals and organizations.
• Issue passports and visas.
• Protect the Prime Minister and other government officials.
• Cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in Australia and overseas.

The AFP’s Achievements

The AFP has a number of achievements to its credit, including:

• The arrest and prosecution of a number of high-profile criminals, including drug traffickers, terrorists, and pedophiles.
• The successful disruption of a number of terrorist plots.
• The recovery of large amounts of stolen money and property.
• The provision of valuable intelligence to other law enforcement agencies in Australia and overseas.

Conclusion

The AFP is a vital part of Australia's law enforcement landscape. The AFP plays a key role in protecting Australia from a wide range of threats, including terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking. The AFP is also a valuable partner to other law enforcement agencies in Australia and overseas.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the AFP?

The AFP is the national police force of Australia. It is responsible for policing matters of national significance, including terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking.

• When was the AFP established?

The AFP was established in 1979.

• Who heads the AFP?

The AFP is headed by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police.

• What are the AFP's powers and responsibilities?

The AFP has a wide range of powers and responsibilities, including the power to investigate and prosecute crimes of national significance, police matters of national security, conduct security assessments of individuals and organizations, issue passports and visas, and protect the Prime Minister and other government officials.

• What are the AFP's achievements?

The AFP has a number of achievements to its credit, including the arrest and prosecution of a number of high-profile criminals, the successful disruption of a number of terrorist plots, the recovery of large amounts of stolen money and property, and the provision of valuable intelligence to other law enforcement agencies in Australia and overseas.