Released 25/11/2022
The ACT Government and Australian Federal Police have signed a $800 million agreement setting out the arrangements for ACT Policing to provide community policing services in the ACT for the next four years.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman said this ongoing collaboration is one of the reasons Canberra continues to be such a safe place to live.
“This arrangement means Canberrans benefit from the skills and resources of the most sophisticated police force in the country while retaining the advantages of a community-focused local police force,” Minister Gentleman said.
“As part of the agreement process, we have also set out a range of shared priorities. These include reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system, improving sexual assault prevention and responses, countering terrorism and violent extremism, and combatting dangerous driving.
“ACT Policing and the AFP have also committed to working together on the service delivery changes in raising the minimum age criminal responsibility.
“Our Police continue to do an outstanding job in tackling crime and keeping our growing population safe.
“This agreement is the cornerstone that gives police in the ACT the resources they need to continue effective and innovative operations that proactively and reactively respond to the needs of our growing population,” Minister Gentleman said.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw said that the unique arrangement between the AFP and the ACT Government provided benefits for both parties.
“The residents of the ACT benefit from the combined support of the entire AFP – as we saw earlier this year when AFP officers from across Australia assisted with significant protest activity here in Canberra,” Commissioner Kershaw said.
“The AFP in turn benefits from the unique skills and experience that officers from community policing provide.
ACT Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan said he was looking forward to implementing ACT Policing’s mission statement, Policing in partnership for a safer community, over the next four years.
“An important introduction to this Agreement is the creation of an annual CPO’s Statement of Intent – that responds to the Ministerial Direction issued every two years, Chief Police Officer Gaughan said.
“My statement of intent will spell out the strategies and plans ACT Policing will use to address the ACT Government’s key priorities and the Ministerial Direction,
“I am pleased that we continue to enjoy a close working relationship with the ACT Government and I thank them for their continued support in keeping the ACT community safe.”
The new Agreement is available on the Justice and Community Safety Directorate website: https://www.justice.act.gov.au/safer-communities/crime-prevention/act-policing
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases