AFP releases Street Review

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty has welcomed the findings of an internal review of the way in which the AFP works with its partner agencies on counter-terrorism investigations.

The Street Review: A review of interoperability between the AFP and its national security partners, was conducted by former NSW Chief Justice Sir Laurence Street, former Director of the Defence Signals Directorate Martin Brady and former NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney.

Commissioner Keelty said the review committee had delivered 10 recommendations that would significantly improve the way joint agency counter-terrorism investigations were managed in the future.

“The recommendations cover the four broad areas of operational decision-making processes, joint taskforce arrangements, information sharing, and training and education,” Commissioner Keelty said.

“The AFP accepts all 10 recommendations and will work closely with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and other national security agencies to ensure the recommendations are implemented as soon as possible.”

ASIO officers will soon be attached to the Melbourne and Sydney Joint Counter-Terrorism Teams (JCTT), ensuring better communication between the agencies at an operational level.

The AFP will act immediately on the recommendation to participate in exercises simulating the investigation and prosecution of terrorism offenders in Australia and more will be done to retain expertise in the joint counter-terrorism teams.

In relation to the other recommendations:

• the AFP will develop a joint operations protocol with ASIO,
• guidelines will be drafted on the role of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in counter-terrorism investigations; and
• a committee comprising the AFP Commissioner, the Director-General of Security and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions will be established to ensure national security issues, strategic priorities and enhanced interoperability are reviewed on a regular basis.

Recommendations relating to enhanced information technology systems and information sharing will be managed in stages over the coming months.

Agencies and departments which contributed to the review included ASIO, the Office of the CDPP, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Attorney-General's Department, the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security, NSW Police Force, NSW Crime Commission, Victoria Police, Queensland Police Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, US Federal Bureau of Investigation, United Kingdom Metropolitan Police Service and New Zealand Police.

View the complete Street Review report (PDF, 5.4MB)