Australias wholeofgovernment approach and related strategies to improve law enforcement cooperation

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Australias whole-of-government approach and
related strategies to improve law enforcement
cooperation
Sharon Watts, Department of Immigration and
Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Grant
Edwards, Australian Federal Police
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Introduction

• Regional cooperation to combat people smuggling
  and people trafficking.
• Effective operational cooperation among law
  enforcement agencies.

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A whole-of-government approach people smuggling

• Australia is committed to border integrity and
  meeting international obligations.
• Whole-of-government policies and programs
  include
• deter unauthorised boat arrivals
• extradite/prosecute smugglers
• assess claims for asylum and
• provide safe return arrangements.

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Approach to People Smuggling - Boat Arrivals
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Australias Response..

• Whole-of-government approach involving a range of
  agencies
• directed by the People Smuggling Task Force
• supported by an Operational Coordination
  Committee
• Implementation of a range of measures
• improved Coastwatch, Customs and Naval
  capabilities
• prosecution of smugglers and seizure of boats
• development of information campaigns overseas
  and
• passing of new laws.

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2001 People Smuggling Laws

• People smuggling laws passed in 2001 focused on
• excising islands from Australias migration zone
• implementing a new visa system
• increasing jail time for people smugglers and
• enhancing ability for authorities to stop boats.

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Unauthorised Arrivals by Boat 1995 - 2003
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Approach to People Smuggling - Air Arrivals

• Australia has universal visa system to manage
  movements across the border.
• Screening reduces security, criminal or health
  risks.
• Layers in the system include
• Airline Liaison Officers and APP
• Movement Alert List and
• coordinated border processing.

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Cooperation between Immigration and Police

• Practical ways we cooperate
• Joint agency People Smuggling Strike Team
• Service Level Agreement and
• Immigration compliance officers and AFP liaison
  officers working together and with host
  countries.

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Combating Trafficking in Persons

• Australia works across the region and
  domestically to combat this crime.
• Whole-of-government strategy announced in October
  2003.
• Came about through collaborative work across
  agencies and covers
• prevention, detection, investigation, and
  appropriate legislation through to criminal
  prosecution, community awareness and victim
  support and rehabilitation.

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Trafficking in Persons Package 2003

• Immigration and Policing efforts include
• closer links between immigration and police
  officials
• new visa arrangements
• Federal Police Strike Team
• information and intelligence gathering
• Senior Migration Officer Bangkok
• improvements in legislation.

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Implementing New Measures

• Recognition of need to change culture to treat
  victims, particularly women, as victims, not just
  unlawful non-citizens.
• New measures include
• awareness, gender sensitivity and cultural
  diversity training
• inclusion of child protection agencies
• working more closely with NGOs
• further investigative and interview training and
  
• support arrangements for returning victims.

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Australias approach

• Whole-of-government policies and
• Operational officers working together across
  agencies.