NCJ Number
176562
Date Published
1998
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A seminar held in February 1998 and sponsored by the Australian Defense Studies Center and the Australian Federal Police focused on policing related to drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal immigrants, and other problems along the Torres Strait, the open border between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Abstract
The discussion noted that the Torres Strait consists of 40,000 square kilometers that include more than 150 islands, 17 of which are permanently inhabited. The Torres Strait has no clearly marked frontier and few signs of border policing or customs controls; free movement is allowed by traditional visitors. The Torres Strait Treaty defines issues of sovereignty and jurisdiction in the area. The complexity of the jurisdictional issues requires coordination among the governments of Australia, Queensland, and PNG. Policing is a major challenge in this isolated area. Issues needing priority attention include proactive intelligence collection, coordination, assessment, and dissemination; improved armed capability of the police to respond to reported or predicted crimes; and closer coordination and mutual support among government agencies. Specific consideration should be given to coordination, intelligence, threat assessment, Torres Strait Islander involvement, aid considerations, military aid to law enforcement, joint patrols, and other issues. Several other actions, including issuing identity cards to the traditional people of the region, could also be good investments in the future welfare of the region and the bilateral relationship between Australia and PNG. Map