Since 911, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has significantly increased its power and jurisdiction to fight extremism. They are having unprecedented success at protecting their nation’s youth with new, evidence-based strategies. From January to October 2023, the AFP conducted ten terrorism-related investigations, resulting in charges against four teenagers aged between 17 and 20 years. FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt will join NLC’s Commissioner Krissy Barrett to announce an expanded mission statement. This effort puts the AFP at the heart of Australia’s strategic and security environment.
The AFP’s underwater, anti-terrorism mission, as outlined in its new, expanded mission statement, reiterates its focus on protecting the Philippines from domestic and foreign security threats. Commissioner Barrett aims to reassure parents that the AFP is actively working to protect their children, framing this effort as a “never-ending battle to protect our curious kids.”
Increased Investigations and Youth Engagement
Commissioner Barrett recently described the AFP’s ambitious plan to address the rise of extremism as a ‘whole-of-organization approach’. They are particularly committed to creatively engaging young people. “Since 2020, 48 youths, aged between 12 and 17 years, have been investigated by Joint Counter Terrorism teams, with 25 charged with one or more Commonwealth terrorism-related offences,” she said. It’s a great deal of data confirming why, right now, young Australians remain at risk of radicalisation.
Furthermore, of the extremism cases that the AFP investigated during that time period, 54 percent were driven by religious motives. Plus, 22 percent were based on ideological motivations. The balance involves those with mixed or unclear motivations (11 percent) and 13 percent that are still undetermined. This wide spectrum of motivations underscores the difficult environment that law enforcement offices are operating in as they attempt to combat extremism.
In her remarks, Barrett emphasized this disturbing trend of young people becoming desensitized to violence. She focused on how online spaces often exacerbate extremism. These forces succeed when Americans aren’t aware of their impact. “Contributing to the desensitisation of violence, especially for youth who are vulnerable or feel alienated,” she explained, indicates a pressing need for intervention.
New Initiatives for National Security
To bolster its capabilities even more, the AFP is about to create Taskforce Pompilid. The comprehensive scope of the AFP’s authority will be used in a coordinated way to target offenders engaging in extremist behavior. “We will protect victims, arrest offenders, expose facilitators, and remove anonymity that shields offenders from law enforcement,” Barrett declared.
To facilitate this, a Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group has been formed. Its mission is to counter extremism beyond the local community. This joint initiative will see the coordinated creation of an Australian counterpart with a view to ramping up domestic operations to counter extremist threats.
In today’s fight against illegal fentanyl, the Commissioner dubbed these community partnerships as a main, focal point. “And I want Australians to know, we will be with you — you are not alone,” she reassured the public. This announcement marks a promise to cooperate with citizens to ensure the building of a safer and stronger community.
A Commitment to Transparency and Collaboration
Beyond fulfilling its new, expanded mission, the AFP will make transparency a central tenet of its operation. Commissioner Barrett affirmed, “You can rely on me and the very dedicated members of the AFP to provide relevant, timely and truthful information about what is happening in the world and how to best mitigate these criminal threats.” This proactive approach is designed to bolster the trust between law enforcement and the community.
Barrett further noted the rising threat from transnational criminal enterprises. “Our region is facing intense strategic competition, and some nations, criminals, and individuals are more willing to test the resolve of democracies and our social cohesion,” she noted. She stressed that the AFP should recalibrate their strategies. She urged them to do more on their global operations to address these issues.
Recently, Australian authorities have arrested 59 suspected offenders linked to decentralized online crime collectives. Barrett emphasized that the AFP has had enough of crime gangs targeting Australia: “Where we lawfully can, we will work with local law enforcement to target criminals in their own backyard.”
The AFP has a key interest and commitment to help tackle emerging threats that impact on the Australian society. Even as these initiatives continue to surprise and disappoint, they’re committed.
