International Network
The global criminal environment today is complex, borderless and fluid. With criminal groups active at local, national and international levels, investigations are increasingly likely to have an international context.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) provides a first point of contact for overseas law enforcement enquiries, via its International Liaison Officer Network and its role as the National Central Bureau for Interpol in Australia.
Within these functions, the AFP can facilitate enquiries around the world, across all crime types ranging from transnational crimes to routine enquiries and coordination arrangements.
The AFP conducts enquiries on behalf of all Australian State, Territory and Federal law enforcement agencies and cooperates with other Australian Government departments domestically and abroad to ensure a whole-of-government approach to fighting crime at its source.
A cornerstone of the AFP’s international cooperation is its global network of more than 82 International Liaison Officers in over 27 countries around the world.
This network is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week to support enquiries from international and domestic partner agencies.
AFP International Liaison Officers are the Australian Government’s law enforcement representatives overseas.
The three key elements to the AFP’s role internationally are:
- collaboration – brokering collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to drive investigations and support bilateral or multi-lateral cooperation.
- intelligence gathering – collection and exchange of criminal intelligence in support of international law enforcement efforts.
- capacity building – enhancing the capacity and the capability of international law enforcement agencies to combat transnational crime.