We work alongside other federal, state and territory bodies by offering investigative services. We also offer non-investigative services, like training or victim identification in mass fatalities.
Australian government bodies can ask us to:
- help with their investigation
- lead or co-lead an investigation.
You'll need to decide if you need help with your investigation or if you have an investigation for us to lead. These requests follow different processes.
Getting help with your investigation
Our investigative services support other departments and agencies in their criminal investigations. We can help by:
- executing search warrants under Section 3E of the Crimes Act 1914
- leading the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce
- providing forensic services, including specialist intelligence capabilities.
To request our help, use the Agency Request for Investigative Service form.
This form allows your organisation to request:
- assistance with a search warrant
- investigation or litigation on proceeds of crime matters
- forensic assistance for criminal and proceeds of crime investigations.
Send the completed form to AFP's National Operations State Service Centre (NOSSC) office in the state or territory where the service is required. You'll find the contact details below.
Forms can be sent by email or post or delivered by hand.
If you are seeking another kind of help, including international policing, contact the NOSSC closest to you for advice.
Asking us to lead an investigation
We investigate criminal allegations within our national policing capacity. This includes:
- serious breaches of Commonwealth legislation
- unlawful release of Commonwealth information.
We lead these investigations on our own or as a joint effort with your organisation.
Before starting internal investigations, tell us if your organisation uncovers alleged criminal activity within our jurisdiction.
If your organisation has access to the NOSSC partner portal, submit your report using the portal.
To report a crime for us to investigate, use the Agency Report a Crime form.
This form allows you to detail the alleged criminal conduct, including:
- a harm statement
- any actions available to your organisation
- evidence
- your ability to assist with the investigation.
Send the completed form to the NOSSC office in the state or territory where the suspected crime occurred or to the NOSSC Canberra office.
Forms can be sent by email or post or delivered by hand.
Preparing to make a request or report
You must provide in-depth information about your case and specific details of the help you need from us.
If your request involves allegations that are being briefed to the government or ministers, please tell us.
Make sure you have the right form, and read the form thoroughly. If you have questions before you lodge the request or report, contact the nearest NOSSC office.
We assess requests and reports using our Operational Priority Model. This model helps us direct resources to the highest-priority activities. Read the OPM to understand how we make decisions to offer assistance.
Apply a security classification to your request or report. When deciding how to send us the information, consider the material's:
- sensitivity (including security classification)
- volume
- format and distribution method.
A phone call can start the request process if immediate action is required. A written request form must follow this phone call within 24 hours.
After making a request
Our information responsibility
Seek approval to release ministerial information to us, including:
- submissions
- briefings.
Once we receive your request, we will not share information with a third party without your organisation's written approval. If we are required by law to disclose information from a report, we will tell you first.
We may consult with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to determine if an offence has been, or is likely to be, committed. Before we do this, we will consult your organisation.
Your communication responsibility
Once you request our assistance, you must consult us before your organisation publicly comments on the investigation. This includes media releases or press conferences.
Subject to operational security, any media communication should acknowledge all departments' and agencies' roles in the investigation.
If you are briefing the government or ministers about an investigation, consult with us to ensure consistent messaging, operational security and timing of briefings.
Non-government organisations
Non-government organisations and members of the public can
Report a crime to us
