Our operating environment
In the past 40 years, the AFP has emerged as a unique federal agency that exercises statutory functions under a broad and complex suite of Commonwealth and state legislation. The nature of the AFP’s work often means that years of effort are required to conduct investigations, make arrests, complete seizures, or undertake a range of other activities within our remit to protect Australians and Australia’s national interests. However, the increasing pace of geopolitical, social, economic, and technological change means that our operating environment is becoming more dynamic and complex, and the AFP’s task more challenging.
Globally, the erosion of rules-based order and the war in Ukraine are high profile examples of a shifting geopolitical environment, but what is less obvious are the heightened challenges posed by escalating foreign interference and espionage threats. The increasing use and development of technology has resulted in more people and devices around the world connecting online, while at the same time driving new emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. This increasing connectivity can challenge traditional understanding of sovereignty, and emergent technologies can trigger change through socio‑economic systems, which are difficult to predict.
Domestically, higher levels of immigration and an ageing population mean that Australian society is becoming more diverse and complex. Australians’ expectations of a working career are shifting, with many people more inclined to seek out flexible work opportunities as well as a range of work experiences over the course of their career.
Community attitudes on a variety of social and justice issues are also shifting. For example, there are increasing calls for legalisation or decriminalisation of some illicit drugs, which comes in the context of ongoing demand for illicit drugs across the community and the emergence of highly harmful synthetic drugs like fentanyl. This and other debates are occurring amongst an increasing volume of misinformation and disinformation spreading through the internet which is providing a vehicle for violence, and potentially contributing to degrading trust in governments and law enforcement.
These broader trends are also shaping the range of criminal threats affecting Australia. Unconstrained by ethics, criminals can quickly pivot the way they work and adopt new technologies to maximise their impact and evade law enforcement. Australia’s most significant organised crime figures are based offshore, highly resilient and deliberately seek to operate beyond the reach of Australian law enforcement. Moreover, Australia’s general level of wealth, compounded by technological, economic and geopolitical factors, contributes to Australia being an attractive target for criminals.
These criminal threats occur across the range of priority areas covered by our national and international policing program including transnational serious and organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime, espionage and foreign interference, human exploitation, and fraud and corruption. Our work in ACT Policing, and specialist protective services and international policing missions are also evolving in response to these threats.
National and International Policing
Australia is facing increasing, persistent and pervasive cybercrime threats targeting critical infrastructure, government, industry and the community. Recent cyberattacks on Australian systems have caused severe harm to the Australian community including direct and indirect financial loss, interruption to essential services, public safety, reputational damage and loss of confidence in the digital economy. Cyberattacks have the potential to threaten the privacy of Australians and can weaken the economy leading to greater threats to livelihoods. This malicious cyber activity against Australia’s national and economic interests is increasing in frequency, scale, sophistication and impact. Our priority cyber threats include ransomware, financial and identity theft malware, and business email compromise.
Transnational serious and organised crime (TSOC) poses a significant threat to the health, safety, financial and physical security of all Australians. TSOC syndicates operate globally to produce and import large quantities of illicit drugs, contributing to overdoses, drug-fuelled violence and road fatalities. It also contributes to terrorist activities and human exploitation. Over 70% of Australia’s serious and organised crime threats are based offshore or have strong offshore links. The size, scale and impact of this crime type elevate it to a national security threat. Some of the more lucrative markets that these syndicates operate in are through the production, importation and distribution of illicit drugs and money laundering, making them areas of focus for the AFP to intercept and stop before they harm the community.
One of the key strategies that the AFP uses to combat TSOC is through the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce, which removes the profit from crime and prevents its reinvestment in further criminal enterprise. Targeting the criminal economy is crucial to disrupting and deterring criminal activity. Assets confiscated often have links to illicit drugs, money laundering, fraud, corruption, firearms trafficking and cybercrime offences. As with most criminal activities, these proceeds of crime transactions have become more advanced, with an increase in operations using cryptocurrencies and alternative methods of obtaining, transferring and using their proceeds.
An element of the AFP’s purpose is the investigation and disruption of espionage and foreign interference. Australia remains a target of hostile foreign state actors who threaten our political systems, government information and defence capabilities. These threats have increased in recent years to become one of Australia’s main national security concerns. Using harassment and intimidation, these hostile actors are targeting communities across Australia in an attempt to further their agendas. Intelligence gathering has been made easier by the increased use of cyber technology and the reopening of borders.
Combating human exploitation remains a key focus for the AFP.This includes human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, slavery and slavery-like practices. The reopening of domestic and international borders as well as technological advancement has increased vulnerability to human exploitation. Child exploitation, particularly through online means, is increasing. Concerning trends of criminals deceiving children into producing exploitation material and then extorting them are rising. Sharing of child abuse material is of growing concern as criminals attempt to use the dark web and encrypted platforms to avoid detection.
Low employment levels, the increasing cost of living and lingering effect of COVID-19, has seen a rising trend in human trafficking and modern slavery, including sexual servitude.
Terrorism, both domestically and internationally, continues to be an area of focus for the AFP. It is an enduring threat that is increasingly complex and diversified in nature, and as a result, the AFP must actively respond to stop the threat before it occurs. The threat of religiously motivated violent extremism remains stable, while the threat from ideologically motivated violent extremism and the caseload from high-risk terrorist offenders is increasing. Domestic terrorist attacks from small groups or self-radicalised lone actors are an ongoing threat and remain a realistic probability. Australia is experiencing an increase in investigations of young people for these types of offences, which was made more complex due to COVID-19 and the use of the internet to spread extremist propaganda.
As a wealthy and profitable country, Australia remains a target for those wanting to engage in fraud and corruption. Offshore actors are seeking to take advantage of Australians and cause damage to the Australian economy. Rising offences have been seen as a result of illegitimate relief funds established in the wake of recent natural disasters. Criminals are also using advanced techniques and involving professionals, such as accountants, to exploit and defraud the Australian Government.
ACT Policing
ACT Policing faces an operational landscape that continues to be shaped by the growing Australian Capital Territory (ACT) population, evolving land use development, and a more complex criminal and social environment. In the past 5 years, the ACT has experienced Australia’s fastest population growth, at nearly double the national average. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have meant that demand for ACT Policing services is increasing and diversifying. This has contributed to a significant increase in critical and time-sensitive calls requiring urgent police attendance such as those pertaining to mental health and family violence.
There are ongoing changes to the complexity of ACT Policing matters, for example, traffic offences are decreasing but reports of more serious crime and public safety related incidents, such as assaults, sexual offences and motor vehicle fatalities are increasing. ACT Policing continues to prioritise areas of concern including the targeting of recidivism through early intervention and community engagement. Family and sexual violence continue to be at the forefront of ACT Policing priorities. Work is continuing to improve victim-centric police responses to sexual violence as well as an increased focus on collaboration, with support partners for all victims.
Legislative changes regarding illicit drugs in the ACT present new threats and opportunities. ACT Policing will continue to work with health and other services in support of decriminalisation laws, while continuing to target drug trafficking and criminality associated with illicit drug use.
ACT Policing is committed to improving community safety and supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. In response to the ACT Government’s commitment to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR), ACT Policing will continue to work with, and advocate for, partner agencies to develop and implement the most appropriate model of response and care for those under the raised MACR. The ACT continues to be at the forefront of legislative reform in Australia, and ACT Policing is conscious of its obligation to evaluate and share lessons learned across the law enforcement community.
Specialist Protective Services
The AFP is responsible for investigating all serious threats and harassment towards government officials.
In recent years, there has been an increase in issue-motivated threats directed towards parliamentarians, with a number of international high office holders being subject to violence or threats.
The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to an increase in anti-government sentiment and a distrust in government decision-making. Protest activity has risen, fuelled by the increasing use of social media and spread of misinformation and disinformation. There is increasing demand for policing resources to ensure peaceful protests, which are expected to continue.
The AFP continues to prioritise national security at designated airports, high profile residential and dignitary locations, and Commonwealth establishments. Protected persons, events and establishments are likely to remain attractive symbolic targets for terrorists, fixated and grievance-fuelled individuals.
International
Police-to-police assistance and diplomacy continues and is increasingly sought in the evolving geopolitical environment. There remains a strong appetite among law enforcement partners for the AFP’s assistance in delivering professional policing services, sharing intelligence on transnational crime threats and strengthening regional resilience. Through our international network, the AFP delivers critical operational outcomes as well as promoting and protecting Australia’s national interests. The AFP also promotes regional stability and continues to uplift the capacity of neighbouring countries through international police partnership programs, particularly in the Pacific.
