Media Release
Joyeux anniversaire AFP Paris
Editor’s note: Images of AFP Senior Officer Detective Superintendent Timothy Jolly in Paris available via Hightail
The AFP is celebrating its partnership and collaboration with French authorities, marking the first anniversary of the opening of its Paris Post.
The AFP Paris Post officially opened in November 2023 to enhance bilateral engagement with France, with a particular focus on supporting our Pacific partners through France’s external territories including New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Fortuna and Wallis.
Paris is the AFP’s fourth post in Europe totalling 34 offices worldwide.
In its first 12 months of operation, AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough signed an Annex agreement between the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and the French Police Nationale Office of Minors (OFMIN) in October, 2024.
This was the first formal agreement signed by the OFMIN with a foreign law enforcement partner which will enable the two agencies to work together operationally and share intelligence to combat child exploitation and remove children from harm.
During the 2024 Paris and Paralympic Games, AFP Paris played a critical role in ensuring the safety of all participants and civilians in the lead-up to and during the historic event.
Twenty-three AFP officers were deployed, including 15 uniform and armed officers in Paris, along with two officers in Tahiti. An additional seven officers deployed for the Paralympic Games assisting French authorities in managing and delivering security across a total of 28 days.
These officers formed part of the major international policing presence at and around the events, with more than 2000 officers from around the world working to support the French Police and Gendarmerie.
Earlier this year, AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw was bestowed with the French Internal Security Medal from the then French Minister for the Interior and Overseas Territories, Mr Gérald Darmanin in February, 2024.
The medal was awarded to Commissioner Kershaw in recognition of his remarkable commitment in fostering of police engagement and uniting Australia and France together in the areas of international security and law enforcement cooperation.
AFP Senior Officer Detective Superintendent Timothy Jolly said the anniversary reflected the AFP’s commitment to build and enhance its international law enforcement partnerships.
“The AFP and French authorities have together continued to forge strong ties over the past year and will continue to work together to counter the impact of transnational crime, illicit drugs, human exploitation, extremism and terrorism, foreign interference, and cybercrime,” Det-Supt Jolly said.
“We remain more committed than ever in strengthening our relationship with French law enforcement and will continue to deliver maximum impact against the transnational syndicates targeting our communities back home in Australia, the Pacific and throughout Europe.
“By working on-the-ground with French law enforcement agencies, we can better target organised crime syndicates, working together to combat the growing threat of transnational organised crime from both sides.”
The AFP has more than 200 personnel located in 34 countries as part of its international network. AFP members posted offshore work in partnership with foreign law enforcement agencies to detect, deter, prevent and disrupt crime and harm at its source.
