Australian Capital Territory Police
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| Australian Federal Police | |
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| working together for a safer community | |
| Established: | |
| Headed by: | Chief Police Officer Michael Phelan |
| Ministry: | ACT Department of Justice & Community Safety |
| Headquarters: | Winchester Police Centre, Belconnen |
| Stations: | 6 |
| Major units: | |
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In 1911 the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was proclaimed as the seat of Australian government. Until 1927 the New South Wales Police patrolled what was mostly rural bushland, except for a small and slowly expanding capital city of Canberra. By the mid-1920's plans were well underway to move Parliament and several Commonwealth Government departments to Canberra and many public buildings were on the verge of being constructed. In 1926 the Commonwealth Attorney General determined that policing in the Territory should be performed by a local force. In 1927 the Federal Capital Territory Police was formed and staffed by 11 men, 10 former Commonwealth Peace Officers and the former NSW Police Sergeant who had been in charge of the NSW Police contingent in Canberra. The force soon changed its name to the Commonwealth Police (Australian Capital Territory) until 1957 when it formally adopted the name Australian Capital Territory Police Force.
On 19 October 1979, at the direction of the Commonwealth Government, the ACT Police Force amalgamated with the Commonwealth Police to form the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The AFP assumed responsibility for policing the ACT, and retained that role even after the ACT attained self government in 1989. The title ACT Policing is used by the AFP to describe community policing operations in the capital.
ACT Policing currently consists of around 830 people of which just over 600 are sworn police.
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[edit] Organisation
ACT Policing consists of five police stations (patrols) located in the Canberra town hubs of Belconnen, City (Civic), Woden, Tuggeranong and Gungahlin Joint Emergency Service Centre. Police Constables based at these stations provide general duties community policing for the ACT. Uniformed traffic operations members also work from City Police Station and primarily focus on road safety and traffic law enforcement within the ACT.
The Winchester Police Centre in Belconnen is ACT Policing's headquarters and contains administrative sections, the ACT Policing executive as well as members of the Territory Investigations Group (TIG). The complex is named in memory of former AFP Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester who was murdered outside his house in early 1989.
[edit] Major units
The TIG provides the plain clothes criminal investigation detective function for the ACT and have members based in each police station, as well as in the Winchester Police Centre.
The Specialist Response and Security (SRS) section of ACT Policing provides a full time tactical operations unit who also perform search and rescue and riot control duties, a K9 section and bomb squad.
[edit] Rank/Structure
As distinct from AFP officers engaged in National duties who are referred to as "Federal Agents", sworn police officers in ACT Policing use the traditional titles/ranks of:
- Constable
- Senior Constable
- Sergeant
- Superintendent
- Commander (Deputy Chief Officer of the Australian Capital Territory Police)
- Assistant Commissioner (Chief Officer of the Australian Capital Territory Police)
Those who have sufficient experience and passed various internal requirements may also use the title "Detective" - eg Detective Senior Constable.
[edit] Chief Police Officers
The title 'Chief Officer' was first used by Lieutenant Colonel Harold Edward Jones, from 1927 until his retirement in 1943. During his tenure Jones also held the positions of Director of the Commonwealth Investigation Bureau and the Superintendent of the Peace Officer Guard. Jones' successor, Robert Reid, was appointed solely to head the ACT Police Force (then titled Commonwealth Police (ACT)). Subsequent commanders of the ACT Police Force used the title Commissioner until the force was amalgamated with the Commonwealth Police in 1979 to form the AFP. The chief police officers from 1927 to 1979 were:
- 1927-1943 Chief Officer Harold Edward Jones
- 1943-1955 Chief Officer Robert Reid
- 1955-1966 Commissioner Edward (Ted) Richards
- 1966 Commissioner Leonard (Len) Powley
- 1966-1977 Commissioner Roy Wilson MVO, QPM
- 1977-1979 Commissioner Reginald (Reg) Kennedy
Between 1979 and 1989 community policing operations in the ACT were headed by an AFP Assistant Commissioner. These officers were:
- 1979-1982 Assistant Commissioner Alan Watt
- 1982-1987 Assistant Commissioner Val McConaghy
- 1987-1989 Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester
- 1989-1992 Assistant Commissioner Brian Bates APM
During Assistant Commissioner Bates' tenure, when the ACT attained self-government in 1989, the AFP created the title Chief Police Officer (CPO). While remaining within the AFP command structure, the CPO also became accountable to the ACT Government for policing outcomes in the Territory.
- 1989-1992 Assistant Commissioner Brian Bates APM
- 1992-1995 Assistant Commissioner Peter Dawson APM
- 1995-1999 Commissioner Mick Palmer AO APM
- 1999-2000 Assistant Commissioner William Stoll APM
- 2000-2004 Deputy Commissioner John Murray APM
- 2004-2005 Deputy Commissioner John Davies OAM APM
- 2005-2007 Assistant Commissioner Audrey Fagan APM
- 2007-present Assistant Commissioner Michael Phelan APM
In 2001 the position and title Deputy Chief Police Officer was created. The first incumbent (2001 - 2002) was Assistant Commissioner Denis McDermott APM, followed by Assistant Commissioner Andrew Hughes APM from 2002 - 2003. Assistant Commissioner Hughes also was the Acting Chief Police Officer for most of the period between the death of Assistant Commissioner Fagan and the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Phelan. Since 2003 the title of Deputy Chief Police Officer has been used by both Commanders in the ACT Policing Executive.
[edit] Vehicles
 ACT Policing vehicle |
 Breath testing truck |
 Police vehicle and uniformed officers. |
[edit] See also
- List of Australian Federal Police killed in the line of duty
- Australian Federal Police
- Specialist Response and Security
- Commonwealth Police
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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