Australia

The Structure of Policing in Australia

In Australia, the vast majority of policing functions are undertaken at the local level by the relevant state and territory police services, with the exception of the ACT where policing is the responsibility of the Australian Federal Police. The principle duties of the police in each state and territory are the prevention of crime and the maintenance of public order. The police also perform a range of other public functions including assisting emergency services and various federal agencies such as the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. Although state and territorial police services are autonomous, the Australian Police Minister's Council (APMC) provides a forum for interservice cooperation and information sharing across jurisdictions. In addition, bodies such as the National Institute of Forensic Sciences and the Australian Centre for Policing Research facilitate communication as well as the exchange of information between the various state and territory services.

In each of the state and territory police services, the police are organized according to a strict hierarchy under the control of a Commissioner (or Chief Commissioner in Victoria). The Commissioner answers directly to the relevant state minister, who, despite often having little involvement in the conduct of police operations or planning, bears overall responsibility for the police service in his or her jurisdiction. Below the Commissioner there are Deputy and Assistant Commissioners, and then, in declining order of seniority, the commissioned ranks of Chief Superintendent, Superintendent, Chief Inspector, and Inspector. Noncommissioned police ranks include Senior Sergeants, Sergeants, Senior Constables, and Constables.

In addition to the state and territory services, Australia also has a national police service—the Australian Federal Police. Although the Australian Federal Police provide local policing services for the Australian Capital Territory and a number of Australia's external territories, including Norfolk Island and Christmas Island, the primary role of the Australian Federal Police is to enforce Federal criminal law, and to act as Australia's international law enforcement and policing representative. In particular, the Australian Federal Police have responsibility for investigating and preventing:

• Transnational crimeD
• Money laundering
• Organized Crime
• Major Fraud
• Drug Trafficking
• Internet-related crime

In accordance with its role as Australia's international law enforcement body, the Australian Federal [Page 948]Police work closely with a range of international policing agencies and maintain a network of liaison officers in some 20 countries around the world. In addition, the Australian Federal Police also provide support for peacekeeping missions overseas.

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