The AFP today launched its new International Strategy, Towards 2030 to set out a road map for how the organisation’s overseas activities will help protect Australians into the next decade.
The AFP currently has more than 200 people based in 34 countries globally operating in a complex, volatile and technology-driven world to combat criminal threats that endanger the safety of communities in Australia and throughout the world.
Assistant Commissioner David McLean said the AFP was ensuring it was able to pre-emptively adjust to the criminal and national security threats Australia and its partners face.
“The AFP’s domestic and international partnerships are vital to our operational success, and have been through the almost 60 years that Australia has had an offshore policing presence. The AFP has proven experience in supporting our overseas law enforcement partners and taking the fight to criminals wherever they hide,” he said.
“Criminal groups are increasingly using advanced technology to facilitate crimes and avoid detection. Globalisation means the flows of people, goods and information are occurring more freely than ever. Factors likes these are why the AFP and its international partners will increasingly rely on each other to prevent harm to our respective and shared communities.
“We have shared challenges in terms of criminal and national security threats – our new International Strategy is about us staying one step ahead of these threats.”
The AFP’s new International Strategy specifies a focus on four goals:
Serious transnational and international criminal threats are identified, assessed, prevented, disrupted and responded to, in collaboration with our international partners.
International peace, stability and security are upheld.
Strong and mutually beneficial partnerships for transnational and international activities.
Australian high office holders, members of foreign diplomatic missions, witnesses and international aviation users remain safe and relevant property is protected.
“These four goals represent the ‘why’ behind the AFP’s international work; everything we do – and will do in the future – relates to one of these four areas,” Assistant Commissioner McLean said.
“This gives the Australian public a clear idea of what the AFP’s focus is and how it helps protect them, while being transparent and honest with the wide range of international partners we are working with, and new ones we will seek to work with over the rest of this decade.
“Working with international partners to address common problems – including through sharing criminal intelligence, emerging techniques and law enforcement technology – means we can protect not only the Australian community, but communities overseas.
The development of the new International Strategy involved consultation with all AFP regional and operational commands, ensuring the final product was an International Strategy for the full gamut of the AFP’s overseas engagement.
The strategy also details the AFP’s international partnership principles, which will govern how the AFP will go about achieving its goals through police-to-police operational and capability development engagement. These principles are based of the principles, values and approaches of international organisations such as the United Nations, INTERPOL and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police.
