Aviation law enforcement

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The AFP is the primary law-enforcement agency at eleven major Australian airports including Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Law-enforcement in Australia’s aviation environment includes deterring, preventing and responding to threats of terror, the investigation of serious and organised crime in the aviation sector and performing a community policing role.

AFP activities in the Aviation environment include:

  1. targeting organised crime in the air stream
  2. deterring acts of terrorism
  3. maintaining a community policing presence
  4. providing the first response to acts of terrorism and emergency incidents
  5. collecting and analysing aviation intelligence
  6. conducting investigations.

The AFP works closely with State and Territory police services, Commonwealth agencies, airport operators and airlines to coordinate action against terrorist and other criminal threats to Australian aviation safety and security.

The Aviation portfolio also works very closely with many other functions of the organisation, including the AFP Operations Coordination Centre, Intelligence, Protection, Border and International and Economic and Special Operations.

Major airport law enforcement roles

AFP officer speaking to a member of the public at the baggage carousel

The AFP’s various aviation teams work together within the airport environment to provide a visible presence to help reassure the travelling public and prevent criminal and terrorist-related activity within the airport.

Airport Police Commanders (APCs)

Airport Police Commanders are in place at all eleven major airports. They are responsible for coordinating and managing the law enforcement teams at airports and liaising with federal and State government and private sector organisations as required.

Police Aviation Liaison Officers (PALOs)

Police aviation liaison officers are conduits between the AFP and aviation industry partners and stakeholders for all matters relating to law enforcement and security issues within the aviation environment. They support the Airport Police Commanders in all major airports.

Counter-Terrorist First Response (CTFR)

Protective service officers perform the counter-terrorist first response role at airports. This also includes protective service officers who perform specialist roles as bomb appraisal officers and firearms and explosives detection dog handlers at major airports.

  • Protective service officers are a visible presence at major airports to deter, prevent and, if necessary, respond to acts of terrorism.
  • Bomb appraisal officers provide technical analysis of suspicious items to determine any potential danger.
  • Firearms and explosive detection dog teams, each consisting of one dog and a handler, provide mobile and unobtrusive explosive detection screening.
Airport Uniform Police (AUP)

Airport uniform police at each of the major airports provide a permanent community policing presence. These officers provide immediate response to policing matters within the airport precincts.

Joint Airport Intelligence Group (JAIG)

JAIGs collect, collate, analyse and disseminate information and intelligence relating to both criminal activity and threats to security in the airport environment. JAIGs are made up of representatives from the AFP, Customs and local State or Territory police services. The Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Australian Crime Commission, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and other Government agencies also second staff to these teams as necessary.

Joint Airport Investigation Team (JAIT)

JAITs investigate serious and organised crime in the aviation sector, focusing on the eleven major airports. These teams are based at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth international airports and can be deployed to any of the major airports. JAITs include representatives from the AFP, Customs and State and Territory police.

Regional airport law enforcement role

Regional Rapid Deployment Teams

Regional rapid-deployment teams deliver the AFP’s counter-terrorist first response function at Australia’s regional airports as part of the Securing Our Regional Skies program. Teams consist of up to eight Protective Service Officers and include a bomb appraisal officer and a firearms and explosives detection canine team comprised of one handler and one dog.

These teams conduct regular and short notice patrols to regional airports. Patrols may be routine, intelligence-driven or threat-based.

National AFP Canine Operations

AFP officer on patrol with a dog

The AFP’s role in ensuring Australia’s national and aviation security is supported by teams of highly trained detection dogs and handlers.

Detection teams are comprised of one officer and one dog. These teams support routine law enforcement operations at airports and may also be used in support of other AFP operations, and for special national events.

Air Security Officer Program

Armed AFP air security officers provide Australia with the ability to resolve significant security and terrorist incidents on selected domestic and international flights. Officers are highly trained to deal with security incidents onboard aircraft and they could be on any flight.

Reduce Aviation Freight Theft (RAFT)

The AFP’s RAFT project aims to reduce freight theft by investigating the theft or suspicious movement of aviation freight from dispatch depot to receiving depot.

The project takes a national approach to overcome traditional problems associated with report and investigating air freight theft. Air freight companies can report freight loss directly to the AFP by calling 131 AFP (237), or using the Reduce Aviation Freight Theft report form.

131 AFP (237)

The AFP works closely with State and Territory police, Commonwealth agencies, and aviation industry partners to safeguard our airports. We value information received from our partners and the public.

If you require a police presence at an airport, or wish to report an incident or provide information, please call the AFP on 131 AFP (131 237).

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