AFP Commissioner secures key meetings with key allies

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw is holding discussions on AUKUS, election integrity, youth radicalisation and child exploitation in the UK and Europe.

Bilateral meetings, including with Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group partners, comes as the AFP has established a new AUKUS Command, which will help protect and secure Australia's nuclear submarine program.

Commissioner Kershaw will also discuss high-value targets and threats impacting on Australia with law enforcement representatives from Vietnam, Pakistan, Greece, Türkiye, Lebanon, South Africa, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Colombia.

From 4-7 November, Commissioner Kershaw will attend the 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly, which will discuss global law enforcement priorities and initiatives, as well as vote for Executive Committee delegates.

Assistant Commissioner Dave McLean, who has responsibility within the AFP for the Americas, Asia, Africa, Middle East and Europe, will vie for one of two delegate seats allocated to the Asia region in a bid to further strengthen Australia's voice on international law enforcement matters. Assistant Commissioner McLean was nominated by Commissioner Kershaw and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.

In the UK, Commissioner Kershaw will address a crucial international alliance to counter child sexual abuse - the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), which the AFP will chair for three years from November 2024.

The VGT, currently chaired by the UK's National Crime Agency, is an international alliance of 15 law enforcement agencies that work together to target the global threat of child sexual abuse.

Partners actively petitioned for the AFP to assume the role of VGT chair given the AFP is considered a world leader in human exploitation, particularly through the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.

Commissioner Kershaw, a former child exploitation investigator, is focussed on ensuring end-to-end encryption does not impact the number or quality of online child exploitation reports referred to law enforcement agencies.

Talks will also be held with Police Service of Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell as well as informal talks with Pacific Chiefs attending INTERPOL.

Commissioner Kershaw said information between agencies would be shared on common threats and emerging issues.

"Some law enforcement officials I will meet with have already had general elections in their countries, so their insights and experiences will be valued as Australia is due to hold a Federal election by May 2025,'' Commissioner Kershaw said.

"Many agencies throughout the world are also grappling with an ongoing and persistent threat of foreign interference.

"Australia is no different and while the AFP has been world-leading in targeting foreign interference, it is imperative we ensure we learn from other nations' experiences.

"I intend to raise Australia's recent cases of youth radicalisation with partners and thank those who have provided the AFP with information. Our children can be entrapped by extremists who live a world away, so information sharing is key to keeping Australians safe.

"And I will also further outline to relevant partners the AFP's role in AUKUS, which will help protect and secure Australia's nuclear submarine program.

"The AFP is working closely with the Department of Defence and the Australian Submarine Agency, and already the AFP has provided key protection to US submariners on recent visits to Western Australia".

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