We keep Australian airports safe by preventing and investigating aviation crime. We are the lead law enforcement agency at 9 airports:
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Cairns
- Canberra
- Darwin
- Gold Coast
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Sydney.
AFP officers provide uniformed and specialist policing at these airports. They keep airports safe by:
- performing regular patrols
- investigating minor criminal matters
- taking reports and making arrests
- helping the airport community
- acting as first responders in acts of terrorism or other emergency incidents.
Firearms and explosive detection teams also patrol airports, detecting dangerous items.
Behind the scenes, we also work to:
- deter acts of terrorism
- collect and analyse aviation intelligence
- target serious and organised crime involving aviation, including carrying drugs or weapons.
Airport Watch
Airport Watch is a single, direct line to the AFP National Operations State Service Centre. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Travellers, airport workers and everyone in the airport community are our eyes and ears in aviation. We rely on you to report suspicious activity and tell us when you think a crime has occurred or may occur.
Contact Airport Watch if:
- anyone, including you, is at risk of physical harm
- something is happening that you think will risk the safety of the airport or the people in it
- you suspect a crime has occurred in an airport.
Call Airport Watch: 131 237 (131 AFP)
What to report
If you see or hear something suspicious or something just doesn't feel right, you can report it to us.
This might include seeing or hearing:
- unruly, anti-social or violent behaviour
- suspicious activities or items, including unattended baggage
- anything that makes you suspect that a crime has occurred or is about to occur.
Our communications operators are not based in an airport. If you are making a report, please give as much detail as possible. This includes information like:
- who is involved, what they looked like, and what they were wearing
- what you saw or heard
- when the incident occurred, and whether it's still happening
- why you think it's important to report it.
