Corporate Plan 2024-25 | Australian Federal Police

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Corporate Plan 2024-25

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Commissioner's foreword

As Australia's national policing agency, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) plays an integral role in ensuring the safety and security of Australians and Australia's national interests.

In our commitment to deliver on the AFP's Ministerial Direction issued by the Attorney-General in 2023, my Statement of Intent emphasises a focus on protecting lives, livelihoods and the Commonwealth by remaining agile, innovative and accountable in an evolving and increasingly complex operating environment.

The next 4 years will be significant in the ongoing evolution of the AFP. While we continue to grapple with serious and high-harm offending like human exploitation, child sexual abuse and organised crime, we are meeting increasing demands across a variety of national security challenges including the protection of democracy.

Our people, capabilities and partners are all critical to achieving our goals across the range of our diverse responsibilities.

We will continue to attract passionate and capable people to a career in policing and strive to be the employer of choice across law enforcement. We will continue to advance our capabilities through innovation and the safe, responsible and ethical exploration of new and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

The AFP must continue to build our relationships with state and territory police; academia; the private sector; and Commonwealth, state and territory governments. In particular, building a bridge to the community we serve, and fostering the enduring trust of those we protect, underpins the ongoing legitimacy of the AFP and supports our effectiveness in addressing criminal threats. Internationally, the AFP's global presence, particularly across our neighbouring Pacific region, is key to preventing harm from reaching Australia, and disrupting and investigating activities that threaten Australia's interests.

The AFP Corporate Plan 2024–25 is critical to meeting these evolving challenges. To reflect our changing work and operating environment, we present an enhanced performance framework that will assist us in assessing our performance over the next 4 years. The activities, measures and targets outlined in this corporate plan highlight our commitment to accountability, achievement and excellence.

Statement of preparation

I, as the accountable authority for the Australian Federal Police, present the AFP Corporate Plan 2024–25. This plan covers the 4-year period from 2024–25 to 2027–28 as required under section 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth). It outlines our purpose, environment, approach and the results we will deliver.

Reece P Kershaw APM

Commissioner

Australian Federal Police

About the AFP

Our purpose

As Australia’s national policing agency, we protect Australians and Australia’s interests. We are committed to protecting Australian lives, livelihoods and the Commonwealth; fostering trust and confidence with our community, partners and government; and maximising our impact on the criminal environment for a safer and more secure Australia.

Our role

Our role is to enforce Commonwealth and Australian Capital Territory criminal law and protect the Commonwealth’s interests from criminal activity in Australia and overseas. We work closely with domestic and international partners to combat complex transnational serious and organised crime, which poses a serious threat to Australia’s national security. Under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 (Cth) (AFP Act) the AFP investigates state offences with a federal aspect, in partnership with domestic partners. The AFP uses its policing insights to engage effectively with the government, partners and the community to promote awareness and resilience.

Our core functions

Provide policing services to the ACT, Jervis Bay and Australia's external territories
Police Commonwealth law, safeguard Commonwealth interests and investigate state offences that have a federal aspect
Undertake domestic engagement and cooperation to disrupt crime and keep Australians safe
Assist international policing and non-government bodies to disrupt crime and support regional security, safety and stability
Protect Commonwealth infrastructure, places and property
Protect designated high office holders, dignitaries and witnesses
Provide offshore peace, stability and security operations, capacity building, police partnership programs and capability development
Confiscate property or wealth from criminals that has been illegally obtained
Provide any other policing function essential to protecting the lives, livelihoods and Australia's way of life, including protective and custodial services

Our corporate plan on a page

Our direction
	AFP Act, Ministerial Direction
Vision	Policing for a safer Australia
Mission	As Australia’s national policing agency we protect Australians and Australia’s interests
Priorities	Maximise our operational impact	Ensure strong police-to-community relationships	Gather critical insights, information and intelligence	Remain the employer of choice across law enforcement
Priorities	Prioritise partnerships in the law enforcement community	Use technology innovatively, and work collaboratively to develop specialist capabilities		Remain flexible and agile, and effectively prioritise our resources

Our focus
Role	To enforce Commonwealth and Australian Capital Territory criminal law, and protect the Commonwealth’s interests from criminal activity in Australia and overseas
Outcomes	Outcome 1 National and International Policing	Outcome 2 ACT Policing	Outcome 3 Specialist Protective Services and International Policing Partnerships
Programs	Program 1.1 Federal Policing	Program 2.1 ACT Community Policing	Program 3.1 Specialist Protective Services
Programs	Program 1.1 Federal Policing	Program 2.1 ACT Community Policing	Program 3.2 International Police Assistance and External Territories
Activities	Maintain the confidence of the Australian community in the AFP	Build community resilience against crime, and work with the community to prevent and disrupt crime, and counter victim-based crimes and road trauma	Respond to aviation incidents at Australian designated airports
	Prevent, disrupt and respond to serious crimes and crimes of Commonwealth significance	Respond to incidents or emergencies to limit harm to community safety	Provide protection for institutions, events, and official persons
	Enforce Commonwealth criminal law and assist state and territory partners to enforce state offences with a federal aspect	Enforce the laws of the Australian Capital Territory and Commonwealth	Provide community policing services to Australia’s external territories and Jervis Bay territory
	Collaborate with international, Commonwealth, state and territory partners		Provide expertise, training and development to regional law enforcement partners

Our foundation
Operating principles	Support the frontline Reduce red tape Enhance partnerships
Values	Accountability Trust Fairness Respect Excellence Commitment Integrity
Capabilities	People and culture Finance and infrastructure Legal services Forensics Intelligence Security Learning and development Media and communications Technology Strategy, performance, policy and legislation Professional standards
Enterprise risks	Health, safety and wellbeing Partnerships and stakeholder engagement Effectiveness of AFP capabilities Culture, standards and integrity Resourcing Operational outcomes Workforce Information

Our operating environment

The AFP continuously monitors and assesses our operating environment to ensure we can deliver on our purpose. The various geopolitical, social, economic and technological changes in our environment can affect the AFP directly and indirectly, and also shape the criminal environment as explored in the AFP Federal Crime Threat Picture. Despite these changes, the AFP strives to evolve with our operating environment to ensure we continue to keep Australians and Australia safe.

Geopolitical change

Geopolitical changes will continue to drive our domestic and international policing and national security environments. Australia continues to play a significant role in supporting the peaceful stability of the region, and there remains strong demand for the AFP to support the advancement of policing and law enforcement outcomes across the Pacific. Conflicts further afield, however, can create reverberating national security challenges and tensions between sections of the Australian community, potentially impacting upon social cohesion.

Global conflict and competition are also complicating supply chains for criminal activity and policing responses. Although this can increase the cost and resourcing impact of policing operations, the cost of inaction through the increased risk of international criminal threats operating in or impacting Australia, remains greater. These conflicts are also expected to impact our international partnerships, as working in some regions may become increasingly difficult, international government priorities may change and perceptions of policing may become polarised.

The AFP is cognisant that climate change has the potential to compound various safety and security risks, through heightened resource scarcity, organised crime, infrastructure challenges, migration and displacement. Increased awareness and preparedness efforts will be needed to ensure policing, and all critical services, can manage any potential long-term effects of climate change.

Despite these anticipated challenges, the AFP’s international presence continues to be of high importance, maximising our impact through use of capabilities and resources. This is particularly important as a majority of crime and criminal influences are offshore. It is critical for us to disrupt these threats before they reach Australian shores and impact our communities. Our offshore partnerships are expected to increase, particularly within the Pacific region, and enhance our ability to prevent, deter and disrupt criminal and national security threats. Pacific and Southeast Asian nations will continue to be some of our most essential partners, given their close geographic proximity to Australia and attractiveness as a target for geopolitical actors and organised crime.

Social changes

One of the biggest social changes affecting the AFP is changing workforce needs. We anticipate ongoing challenges regarding the expanding skills and experiences needed for modern policing, increasing representation, competition in key employment markets, and the need to balance an increasingly multigenerational workplace.

Changing societal views on youth offending are contributing to debates about the age of criminal responsibility across Australia. Further, shifting attitudes towards illicit drugs are manifesting in legislative changes, such as the ACT’s Drugs of Dependence Act 1989, at a time when drug consumption across Australia remains high. We will continue to work with the community while responding to the complexities of modern-day policing by adapting our operating model and investigative processes where required.

Trust and confidence in policing and other institutions continues to be a key factor in shaping relationships with the community, particularly as a result of the challenges to social attitudes towards government and policing, which arose both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Australians remain highly engaged in our political system and it is important to the health of Australian democracy that interactions between politicians and the public remain safe.

Moreover, high levels of public trust and confidence are of strategic importance to the AFP. High levels of trust are associated with increased crime reporting, stronger provision of information and intelligence, and greater community support for the legislative reforms police need to adapt to a changing environment. The AFP’s Community Confidence Survey indicates strong level of confidence in the AFP,¹ and the National Survey of Community Satisfaction with Policing highlights that ACT residents report relatively high perceptions of safety at home and in public places.²

Economic conditions

Economic conditions, both in Australia and internationally, continue to be affected by ongoing geopolitical and social shocks. Macro-economic factors have a downstream effect on communities, including the cost of living increasing compared to previous years. Although Australia remains a relatively wealthy country by international standards, the increasing cost of household goods, energy, housing and other necessary living expenses has widespread impacts on Australians. As these costs increase, it is likely that opportunistic actors may capitalise on vulnerable Australians through scams and other fraudulent schemes. The AFP recognises that law enforcement is just one aspect of the response to cybercrime, and we will continue to invest in public awareness and education programs to encourage cyber safety.

The AFP maintains a strong focus on working within its operating budget, while managing evolving criminal threats. Through investments in the AFP, the government has boosted our workforce and our ability to achieve additional objectives. However, the AFP faces a range of external operating pressures and increased operating costs and we must continue to seek efficiencies to meet government expectations.

Technological change

Technology is expected to continue to advance at a rapid rate, shaping both the criminal threat environment and our policing capabilities. All crime types and policing functions are impacted by the use of technology, including how emerging technology such as AI, biomedical capabilities, robotics and machine learning will accelerate this impact.

Technology is a key enabler for criminal activity against Australians, including by cyber-criminals. The online grooming and abuse of children, and easily accessible exposure to abhorrent and violent extremist material is continuing to grow. Australia is also facing increasing, persistent and pervasive cybercrime threats targeting critical infrastructure, government, industry and the community. The AFP will continue to prevent, deter and respond to these threats using both traditional and innovative policing methods.

The AFP’s Blue paper to 2030 and beyond details the future of federal policing in leading, embracing and leveraging technology. We recognise the significance of Digital Evolution 4.0, including the influential role of AI as a major driver of transformative changes affecting the Australian community, and in turn policing. The AFP acknowledges that we must hold ourselves to a high standard as the technology landscape changes, and we will ensure accountability, transparency and responsibility when adopting any new technology.

Our capabilities

The AFP’s capabilities are crucial to achieving our purpose. Maintaining and developing them ensures we can respond to the challenges and leverage opportunities presented by our operating environment, now and in the future. We will implement strategies and plans to ensure we are suitably placed to achieve our outcomes through our capabilities.

People

Our people are our greatest asset. The AFP aims to remain an employer of choice, building and fostering a workplace environment that attracts and retains agile members with adaptive skillsets, while reducing attrition.