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Overview
The AFP is responsible on a national basis for the provision of police services in relation to the laws and property of the Commonwealth and its authorities and the safeguarding of Commonwealth interests. The AFP also provides a community policing service to the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay and Australia's external territories. Police agencies of the six states and the Northern Territory provide police services within their respective jurisdictions.
Law enforcement functions performed by the AFP include, but are not restricted to, enforcing laws relating to drug trafficking, fraud against government revenue and expenditure, other forms of organised crime such as money laundering, and politically sensitive matters including official corruption. The provision of witness protection services and close personal protection to VIPs are also responsibilities of the AFP.
The AFP supports the Australian government's international responsibilities through the provision of a range of law enforcement services.
The AFP provides the Australian National Central Bureau (NCB) for the International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol. The NCB represents all Australian police services and provides a direct link with the 179 member countries of Interpol.
Through its network of strategically deployed liaison officers (LOs) throughout the world, the AFP has a pro-active capacity to combat the increasing complexity and sophistication of criminal activity which has become more global by nature. Both the Interpol NCB and the International support group are co-located at AFP Headquarters, Canberra.
The main role of AFP liaison officers is to facilitate the interchange of drug and other crime related intelligence between the AFP, other federal law enforcement agencies, Australian State police services and foreign law enforcement agencies. The liaison officers also provide strategic intelligence reporting on international criminal trends.
The AFP aims to provide all Australian law enforcement agencies with the capacity to effectively undertake international investigations. Experienced staff at AFP International are available to provide advice on the most effective way to advance overseas inquiries.
A principal objective of the AFP is to provide the Commonwealth government with law enforcement advice and support in meeting its foreign policy interests and international obligations. In this regard, AFP International works closely with a number of agencies, in particular the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Attorney-General's Department.