Australian Capital Territory Police
Encyclopedia
ACT Policing is the portfolio of the Australian Federal Police
(AFP) responsible for providing policing services to the Australian Capital Territory
(ACT). The Australian Capital Territory Police was an independent police force responsible for policing the ACT until 19 October 1979, when it was merged with the Commonwealth Police
to form the AFP.
was proclaimed as the seat of Australian government, then the Federal Capital Territory
under Commonwealth Government administration. 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-1920s 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, as a result of a Commonwealth Government restructure of Australian national policing services, the ACT Police Force amalgamated with the Commonwealth Police to form the Australian Federal Police
(AFP). The AFP assumed responsibility for policing the ACT, retaining the role to this day, notable as the ACT attained a degree of self-government in 1989. ACT Policing currently consists of around 923 people of which just over 690 are sworn police.
The Winchester Police Centre, Benjamin Way, Belconnen
, is the ACT Policing Headquarters. The Complex houses ACT Policing's Executive, administrative and support sections and elements of the Territory Investigations Group (TIG).
The complex is named in memory of the former Assistant Commissioner
Colin Winchester
APM
, the head of the then ACT Region (ACT Policing) of the AFP. Assistant Commissioner Winchester was murdered outside his house in early 1989.
Specialist Response and Security
(SRS) provides a full time tactical operations unit, who also perform search and rescue, riot control, canine and bomb response sections.
Those who have sufficient experience and have demonstrated the appropriate competencies are designated as a Detective
whilst performing investigative duties in ACT Policing. Members with a Detective designation who assume other roles do not use the title when not attached to investigative or TIG functions.
The chief police officers from 1927 to 1979 were:
Between 1979 and 1989, community policing operations in the ACT were headed by an AFP Assistant Commissioner. These officers were:
During Assistant Commissioner Bates' tenure, at the time of ACT self-government commencement in 1989, the title Chief Police Officer was resumed to denote the head of ACT Policing. Whilst remaining within the AFP command structure, the CPO also became accountable to the ACT Government for policing outcomes in the ACT.
In 2001, the position and title of Deputy Chief Police Officer was created. The first incumbent, between 2001 and 2002, was Assistant Commissioner Denis McDermott APM
, followed by Assistant Commissioner Andrew Hughes APM
between 2002 and 2003. Assistant Commissioner Hughes performed the duties of the Chief Police Officer for most of the period between the death of Assistant Commissioner Fagan APM and the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Phelan APM in 2007. Since 2003, the title of Deputy Chief Police Officer has been used by both Commander rank deputies of the ACT Policing Executive.
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
(AFP) responsible for providing policing services to the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
(ACT). The Australian Capital Territory Police was an independent police force responsible for policing the ACT until 19 October 1979, when it was merged with the Commonwealth Police
Commonwealth Police
The name Commonwealth Police was used by three separate policing organisations in Australia at various times in the 20th century.-Commonwealth Police Force :...
to form the AFP.
History
In 1911, the ACTAustralian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
was proclaimed as the seat of Australian government, then the Federal Capital Territory
Federal Capital Territory
Federal Capital Territory refer to:*Australian Capital Territory*Federal Capital Territory *Federal Capital Territory...
under Commonwealth Government administration. Until 1927, the New South Wales Police
New South Wales Police
The New South Wales Police Force is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is an agency of the Government of New South Wales within the New South Wales Ministry for Police...
patrolled what was mostly rural bushland, except for a small and slowly expanding capital city of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. By the mid-1920s 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
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
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, as a result of a Commonwealth Government restructure of Australian national policing services, the ACT Police Force amalgamated with the Commonwealth Police to form the Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
(AFP). The AFP assumed responsibility for policing the ACT, retaining the role to this day, notable as the ACT attained a degree of self-government in 1989. ACT Policing currently consists of around 923 people of which just over 690 are sworn police.
Organisation
ACT Policing consists of five police stations (patrols) located in the Canberra town centres 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, Benjamin Way, Belconnen
Belconnen
Belconnen is a district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, comprising 25 suburbs with 29,900 dwellings housing 82,247 people of the 311,518 people in the Australian Capital Territory ....
, is the ACT Policing Headquarters. The Complex houses ACT Policing's Executive, administrative and support sections and elements of the Territory Investigations Group (TIG).
The complex is named in memory of the former Assistant Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant commissioner is a rank used in many police forces across the globe. It is also a rank used in revenue administrations in many countries.-Australia:...
Colin Winchester
Colin Winchester
Colin Stanley Winchester APM, was an Assistant Commissioner in the Australian Federal Police . Winchester commanded ACT Police, the community policing component of the AFP Australian Federal Police responsible for the Australian Capital Territory.On 10 January 1989, at about 9:15 pm, he was...
APM
Australian Police Medal
The Australian Police Medal is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.The APM was introduced in 1986, and replaced the Imperial Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service....
, the head of the then ACT Region (ACT Policing) of the AFP. Assistant Commissioner Winchester was murdered outside his house in early 1989.
Major Specialist Units
TIG provides a criminal investigation (detective) function to the ACT, and has members located at each police station and the Winchester Police Centre.Specialist Response and Security
Specialist Response and Security
The Specialist Response and Security Team is the Special Operations and Police Tactical Group of the Australian Federal Police having responsibility for tactical and specialist operations within the Australian Capital Territory...
(SRS) provides a full time tactical operations unit, who also perform search and rescue, riot control, canine and bomb response sections.
Rank/Structure
As distinct from the majority of AFP Members engaged in duties outside of ACT Policing, who under AFP Commissioner's Order 1 (Administration), are titled Federal Agents, police Members of ACT Policing (and some other AFP portfolios) adopt traditional ranks:- ConstableConstableA constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
- Senior Constable
- Sergeant
- SuperintendentSuperintendent (police)Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
- Commander (Deputy Chief Police Officer of the Australian Capital Territory)
- Assistant CommissionerAssistant CommissionerAssistant commissioner is a rank used in many police forces across the globe. It is also a rank used in revenue administrations in many countries.-Australia:...
(Chief Police Officer of the Australian Capital Territory)
Those who have sufficient experience and have demonstrated the appropriate competencies are designated as a Detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
whilst performing investigative duties in ACT Policing. Members with a Detective designation who assume other roles do not use the title when not attached to investigative or TIG functions.
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, QPMQPMQPM may refer to:*Queen's Police Medal, a medal awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service...
- 1977-1979 Commissioner Reginald (Reg) Kennedy QPMQPMQPM may refer to:*Queen's Police Medal, a medal awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service...
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 WinchesterColin WinchesterColin Stanley Winchester APM, was an Assistant Commissioner in the Australian Federal Police . Winchester commanded ACT Police, the community policing component of the AFP Australian Federal Police responsible for the Australian Capital Territory.On 10 January 1989, at about 9:15 pm, he was...
APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games... - 1989-1992 Assistant Commissioner Brian Bates APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
During Assistant Commissioner Bates' tenure, at the time of ACT self-government commencement in 1989, the title Chief Police Officer was resumed to denote the head of ACT Policing. Whilst remaining within the AFP command structure, the CPO also became accountable to the ACT Government for policing outcomes in the ACT.
- 1989-1992 Assistant Commissioner Brian Bates APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
- 1992-1995 Assistant Commissioner Peter Dawson APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
- 1995-1999 Commissioner Mick Palmer AO APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
- 1999-2000 Assistant Commissioner William Stoll APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
- 2000-2004 Deputy Commissioner John Murray APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
- 2004-2005 Deputy Commissioner John Davies OAMOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games... - 2005-2007 Assistant Commissioner Audrey FaganAudrey FaganAudrey Fagan was an Australian police officer, from 2005 holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner and the title of Chief Police Officer for the Australian Capital Territory , which included community policing responsibilities for Canberra and other parts of the ACT. She was awarded the...
APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games... - 2007-2010 Assistant Commissioner Michael PhelanMichael Phelan (police officer)Michael Phelan was the Chief Police Officer of the Australian Capital Territory Police.Phelan commenced his career with the Australian Federal Police in 1985. Subsequent to being promoted to the rank of commander in 2002, he became assistant commissioner in 2004...
APMAPMAPM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games... - 2010–present Assistant Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg
In 2001, the position and title of Deputy Chief Police Officer was created. The first incumbent, between 2001 and 2002, was Assistant Commissioner Denis McDermott APM
APM
APM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
, followed by Assistant Commissioner Andrew Hughes APM
APM
APM, apm, or Apm may refer to any of the following:*Absolute Position Measurement, a method of measuring the position of a robot from a reference point*Actions per minute, a term used in real-time strategy games...
between 2002 and 2003. Assistant Commissioner Hughes performed the duties of the Chief Police Officer for most of the period between the death of Assistant Commissioner Fagan APM and the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Phelan APM in 2007. Since 2003, the title of Deputy Chief Police Officer has been used by both Commander rank deputies of the ACT Policing Executive.
See also
- List of Australian Federal Police killed in the line of duty
- Australian Federal PoliceAustralian Federal PoliceThe Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
- Specialist Response and SecuritySpecialist Response and SecurityThe Specialist Response and Security Team is the Special Operations and Police Tactical Group of the Australian Federal Police having responsibility for tactical and specialist operations within the Australian Capital Territory...
- Commonwealth PoliceCommonwealth PoliceThe name Commonwealth Police was used by three separate policing organisations in Australia at various times in the 20th century.-Commonwealth Police Force :...