Our role and function

The Australian Federal Police's (AFP) role is to enforce Commonwealth criminal law, and to protect Commonwealth and national interests from crime in Australia and overseas. The AFP is Australia's international law enforcement and policing representative, and the Government's chief source of advice on policing issues.

The AFP works closely with a range of other law enforcement bodies at state, territory, Commonwealth and international levels, enhancing safety and providing a secure regional and global environment.

Our priorities

The AFP's strategic priorities are set through Ministerial Direction and national forums such as Council of Australian Governments (COAG). These strategic directions are reflected in the AFP outcomes framework agreed by Government.

Current areas of focus include:
• preventing, countering and investigating terrorism
• illicit drug trafficking
• transnational and multi-jurisdictional crime
• organised people smuggling, human trafficking and slavery
• serious fraud against the Commonwealth
• high-tech crime involving information technology and communications
• regional peacekeeping and capacity building; and
• money laundering.

Other significant areas of focus include: providing community policing services to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Jervis Bay and external territories; contributing to the Government's international law enforcement interests; and providing for the security of Australian air travellers and the aviation industry.

Please visit the Australian Federal Police website for more information.