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Other Overseas Activities
Overseas advisers
From time to time, overseas advisers are deployed by the AFP to the Asia and South Pacific region, often under the Defence Cooperation Plan. With increasing unrest in and around the South Pacific the AFP is expecting to be called on more frequently.
In January 1998 one officer commenced deployment in Vanuatu as the training adviser to the Vanuatu Police Force. In January 1999, a second officer commenced deployment in Vanuatu as the adviser to the Commissioner, Vanuatu Police Force.
In July 1999 the AFP deployed a federal agent as an adviser to the Officer of the Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) for a period of two years. He was joined in March 2000 by another federal agent who is the AFP adviser to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner (Crime) RSIP. The latter's role is to assist in the development and implementation of strategies and policies leading to the enhancement of the policing capability of the Criminal Investigations Division over a period of 12 months.
The AFP has also provided three investigators to the UN War Crimes Commission at in The Hague. These members are assisting in the investigation of war crimes emanating from the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.
Peacekeeping in Cyprus
Australian police were first sent to the United Nations Civilian Police (UNCIVPOL) in Cyprus in 1964. Their main duty is to inquire into and settle disputes between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the Buffer Zone. Initially, staffing of UNCIVPOL was drawn from all State and Territory police services, however since 1979 the responsibility has been undertaken solely by the AFP.
The AFP currently has an unarmed contingent of 20 members in Cyprus. They are responsible for patrolling three sectors of the UN Buffer Zone. A large part of their duties consists of escorting and facilitating the movement of people and property through the Buffer Zone. There is a continuing need for civilian police to respond to demonstrations, providing a division between civilians and armed military personnel.
East Timor
In June 1999, the AFP deployed a detachment of 50 officers to the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), where they assisted in monitoring events leading up to the East Timor Referendum. They remained in country until post-polling violence resulted in their evacuation.
Australian troops under the auspices of INTERFET secured East Timor, and an AFP detachment returned and commenced police peacekeeping duties with UNAMET, and later with the United Nations Transitional Administration (UNTAET).
Since June 1999 more than 455 Australian Federal Police officers (including state police temporarily serving with the AFP) have worked in East Timor often in hazardous conditions, testing their skills and resolve on a daily basis. Members have been involved in community policing, investigations, internal police investigations, organisation of independence celebrations as well as training local East Timor Police officers in all aspects of community policing.