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The Australian Federal Police Uniformed Protection is the organisation responsible for protection of Commonwealth Government property, property of foreign governments and international treaty organisations, Commonwealth officers and their families and international protected personals. It was formerly known as the Australian Protective Service, however it merged with the Australian Federal Police in 2004 and became known as the Australian Federal Police Protective Service. HISTORY The Australian Protective Service (APS) was established in 1984 when 420 Constables transferred over from the Australian Federal Police . The APS was the Commonwealth Government's specialist custodial, protective security and Counter Terrorist law enforcement agency. The APS was an armed paramilitary Federal agency in which all members where uniformed and had rank structure consistent with other law enforcement agencies. Plain clothed operations were normally restricted to members of the NSW Region Escort Response Group and the later introduced Air Security Officers (Air Marshals). The APS was responsible for the protection of property in which the Commonwealth , a foreign country or an international organisation has an interest in, persons holding office under the Commonwealth, their families and internationally protected persons. The APS also operated some functions in the contestable private sector area. With the sale of Australian airport facilities the APS contracted for the provision of Counter Terrorism First Response (CTFR) role to the airport operators. Unlike other law enforcement agencies, the APS had limited internal honors and awards, the most coveted being the Australian Protective Service Directors Award handed out by the head of the Agency the APS Director. Post the September 11 Terror Attacks the Commonwealth Government conducted a review and as a result decided to combine both the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the APS in order to ensure the closest possible co-ordination between two of Australia’s key counter terrorist agencies and on 1 July 2004 the Australian Protective Service merged into the AFP, becoming an Operating Division. It was then renamed the Australian Federal Police Protective Service and is now known as the Australian Federal Police Uniformed Protection. At the time of its full integration to the AFP on 30 June 2004 , the Protective Service had 1327 employees. PRESENT The Australian Protective Service Amendment Bill 2002 was introduced into the Parliament with the intention of making the Australian Protective Service (APS) become an operating division of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The legislation passed and full integration took effect from July 1 , 2004 . The service is now known as the Australian Federal Police Uniformed Protection, an operational division of the AFP. AFP Uniformed Protection officers are referred to as "Protective Service Officers" (PSOs) and do have specialised powers under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 (powers of arrest for Commonwealth Offences relating to their working area.) Existing as the Uniformed Protection function includes Witness Protection, Close Personal Protection and Protective Security Intelligence. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS Some of the AFP Uniformed Protection key roles include:
In addition, it is at defence sites at Exmouth , the United States Naval Communications Station at North West Cape , Western Australia , the Australian Defence Signals facility, Geraldton, Western Australia . It also provides backup security at immigation centres. PSO's have a higher level of skill in the area of Counter Terrorism First Response than general duties police officers with on-going training to enhance skill levels. In 2007, the APEC Summit hosted in various Australian states and cities including Sydney will have AFPPS involvement regarding enforcement and protection as world leaders including John Howard , George W Bush and other government and economic leaders will be in attendance. THE ASO PROGRAM In response to the September 11 incidents, the Commonwealth instituted an Air Security Officer Program under the APS. These employees are generally referred to in the media as " Sky Marshal " or "Air Marshal". The ASO Programme provides a discreet anti- Hijacking capability for Australian civil aviation by providing armed security personnel on board aircraft. This involves both random and intelligence-led placement of armed ASOs on flights operated by Australian registered air carriers, including domestic and international flights into and out of Australia. The program draws from a pool of applicants that includes Defence Force personnel and employees of State Police Forces and the AFP but must be sworn as PSO's for the AFP. PEACEKEEPING A reflection of the AFP's international obligations is its Peacekeeping role. The AFP's peacekeeping efforts are principally focused on the Pacific where the organisation assists in the law-enforcing efforts of many sovereign nations. As such, AFP Protective Service officers are routinely deployed overseas to assist with peacekeeping operations due to the tactical training they have received. AFPPS officers are at present deployed along with other Australian Law Enforcement officers in the Solomon Islands and now East Timor as part of RAMSI . SEE ALSO REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS |
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