NCJ Number
47734
Journal
Police Volume: 10 Issue: 7 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 24-26
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW IS PRESENTED OF AUSTRALIA'S FEDERAL AND STATE POLICE FORCES.
Abstract
EACH OF AUSTRALIA'S SIX STATES, ITS NORTHERN TERRITORY AND THE CAPITAL TERRITORY, HAS ITS OWN POLICE FORCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE NATION'S CAPITAL, CANBERRA, IS THE SITE OF THE COMMONWEALTH POLICE FORCE, A FEDERAL AGENCY WHOSE SPECIAL DUTIES INCLUDE THE PROTECTION OF POLITICAL LEADERS AND OTHER IMPORTANT PERSONS, INCLUDING DIPLOMATS. IN MOST CASES THE STATE AND TERRITORY POLICE HANDLE THE CRIME IN THEIR AREA, BUT THERE ARE PIECES OF FEDERAL TERRITORY ALL AROUND THE NATION, SUCH AS AIRPORTS, AND THESE ARE THE IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH POLICE. HOWEVER, THERE IS FLEXIBILITY, AND LIKE ALL THE SEPARATE AUSTRALIAN POLICE FORCES, THE COMMONWEALTH POLICE ASSIST THEIR COLLEAGUES WHERE NECESSARY. WIDE RANGES IN POPULATION DENSITIES OFFER POLICE OFFICERS BEATS WHICH RANGE FROM A FEW BLOCKS IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS LIKE KINGS CROSS, SIDNEY, TO ALMOST 4,000 SQUARE MILES IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND IN THE NORTH OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. IN AUSTRALIA, THE COMMISSIONER, OR CHIEF OF POLICE, IN EACH STATE AND TERRITORY IS USUALLY CHOSEN FROM SENIOR POLICE RANKS BY STATE LEGISLATORS. THE COMMISSIONER IS RESPONSIBLE DIRECTLY TO A CABINET MINISTER AND RETAINS THIS NONPOLITICAL POSITION EVEN IF A GOVERNMENT CHANGES. A BRIEF SUMMARY IS PROVIDED OF THE COMMONWEALTH POLICE FORCE AND OF THE FORCES IN NEW SOUTH WALES, VICTORIA, QUEENSLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, TASMANIA, AND THE CAPITAL AND NORTHERN TERRITORIES, WITH ATTENTION TO THE SIZE OF THE FORCE, ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND SPECIAL SQUADS. IT IS NOTED THAT IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, THE FORCE EMPLOYS ABORIGINES AS TRACKERS WHEN SEARCHING FOR LOST TRAVELERS AND CRIMINALS WHO HAVE FLED INTO THIS REGION. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED OF THE POLICE IN ACTION. (LKM)