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ACT Policing
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>In 1911, the <a href="/facts/Australian_Capital_Territory/wvCnG3y7">ACT</a> was proclaimed as the seat of Australian government, then the Federal Capital Territory under Commonwealth Government administration. Until 1927, the <a href="/facts/New_South_Wales_Police/MSdsCatl">New South Wales Police</a> patrolled what was mostly rural bushland, except for a small and slowly expanding capital city of <a href="/facts/Canberra/V2PldFRs">Canberra</a>. 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. </p><p>In 1926, the Commonwealth <a href="/facts/Attorney-General/Pb9bnmKa">Attorney-General</a> 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 <a href="/facts/New_South_Wales/aW7eJXSS">NSW</a> 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. In July 1972 the Aboriginal tent embassy set up by <a href="/facts/Gary_Foley/2EGovL8A">Gary Foley</a> and other notable activists was torn down by ACT police forces for the first time, however many more tents were set up and again torn down by the ACT police. </p><p>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 <a href="/facts/Australian_Federal_Police/HtKGHkW6">Australian Federal Police</a> (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 1,015 people of which 731 are sworn police, 270 unsworn and 14 <a href="/facts/Police_community_support_officer/v9tV0M16">PSOs</a>. </p> <h3>Female officers</h3> <p>In January 1947, the chief of the Canberra Police advised several applications were received for a police woman position, having previous police experience, and knowledge of child welfare work, but not with any military provost experience.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> The first female officer was appointed to the force on 18 April 1947,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> the first of two positions, from more than twenty applicants.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> In plain clothes, they were also originally appointed as probation officers under the Juvenile Offenders (Probation) Ordinance. By 1976 the ACT Police had 563 male and 17 female officers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="organisation">Organisation</h2> <p>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 Road Policing members work from the Road Policing<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> Centre in Hume which opened in June 2023 and primarily focus on road safety and traffic law enforcement within the ACT. </p><p>The Winchester Police Centre, Benjamin Way, <a href="/facts/Belconnen/jHd7EXy0">Belconnen</a>, is the ACT Policing Headquarters. The Complex houses ACT Policing's Executive, administrative and support sections and elements of the Criminal Investigations area (CI). </p><p>The complex is named in memory of the former <a href="/facts/Assistant_Commissioner/feaPMx1n">Assistant Commissioner</a> <a href="/facts/Colin_Winchester/BxetHy91">Colin Winchester</a> <a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a>, the head of the then ACT Region (ACT Policing) of the AFP. Assistant Commissioner Winchester was murdered outside his house in early 1989.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h3>Major specialist units</h3> <p>Criminal Investigations (CI) provides a detective function for the ACT, and is located at each of the main police stations (being Tuggeranong, Gungahlin, Woden, Belconnen and City) and the Winchester Police Centre. </p><p>AFP Specialist Protective Command<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> provide a full-time tactical response capability, through the Tactical Response Team,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> in addition to search and rescue, public order management (riot control), police dogs and bomb response functions. </p> <h2 id="rank-and-structure">Rank and structure</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Australian_police_ranks/WezU3hrT">Australian police ranks</a></p> <p>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: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Constable/ceBQg6vn">Constable</a></li> <li>First Constable</li> <li><a href="/facts/Constable/ceBQg6vn">Senior Constable</a></li> <li>Leading Senior Constable</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sergeant/mtBXTBSf">Sergeant</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Inspector/QGMzaXzK">Inspector</a> (Officer in Charge)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Superintendent_(police)/NsKqKGV1">Superintendent</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Commander/0AASADmo">Commander</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Assistant_Commissioner/feaPMx1n">Assistant Commissioner</a> (Deputy Chief Police Officer of the Australian Capital Territory)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Deputy_Commissioner/jaSDjaDT">Deputy Commissioner</a> (Chief Police Officer of the Australian Capital Territory)</li></ul> <p>Those who have sufficient experience and have demonstrated the appropriate competencies are designated as a <i>Detective</i>. </p> <h2 id="chief-police-officers">Chief police officers</h2> <p>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. 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. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Post-nominals</th><th>Term began</th><th>Term ended</th></tr><tr><th colspan="5">Chief Officer of the ACT Police Force</th></tr><tr><td>Chief Officer</td><td>Harold Edward Jones</td><td><a href="/facts/Officer_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire/HlY9buuN">OBE</a></td><td>1927</td><td>1943</td></tr><tr><td>Chief Officer</td><td>Robert Reid</td><td></td><td>1943</td><td>1955</td></tr><tr><td>Commissioner</td><td>Edward 'Ted' Richards</td><td><a href="/facts/Member_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order/o3yjlYBp">MVO</a></td><td>1955</td><td>1966</td></tr><tr><td>Commissioner</td><td>Leonard 'Len' Powley</td><td></td><td>1966</td><td>1966</td></tr><tr><td>Commissioner</td><td>Roy Wilson</td><td><a href="/facts/Member_of_the_Royal_Victorian_Order/o3yjlYBp">MVO</a>, <a href="/facts/Queen%2527s_Police_Medal_for_Distinguished_Service/wmLrSWH0">QPM</a></td><td>1966</td><td>1977</td></tr><tr><td>Commissioner</td><td>Reginald 'Reg' Kennedy</td><td><a href="/facts/Queen%2527s_Police_Medal_for_Distinguished_Service/wmLrSWH0">QPM</a></td><td>1977</td><td>1979</td></tr><tr><th colspan="5">AFP Assistant Commissioner for the ACT</th></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Alan Watt</td><td></td><td>1979</td><td>1982</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Val McConaghy</td><td></td><td>1982</td><td>1987</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td><a href="/facts/Colin_Winchester/BxetHy91">Colin Winchester</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>1987</td><td>1989</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Brian Bates</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>1989</td><td>1989</td></tr><tr><th colspan="7">Chief Police Officer of ACT Policing</th></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Brian Bates</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>1989</td><td>1992</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Peter Dawson</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>1992</td><td>1995</td></tr><tr><td>Commissioner</td><td><a href="/facts/Michael_John_Palmer/bxqNCezd">Michael Palmer</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Officer_of_the_Order_of_Australia/rx4oLyAh">AO</a>, <a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>1995</td><td>1999</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>William Stoll</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>1999</td><td>2000</td></tr><tr><td>Deputy Commissioner</td><td>John Murray</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>2000</td><td>2004</td></tr><tr><td>Deputy Commissioner</td><td>John Davies</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a>, <a href="/facts/Medal_of_the_Order_of_Australia/rx4oLyAh">OAM</a></td><td>2004</td><td>2005</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td><a href="/facts/Audrey_Fagan/LzWIccsG">Audrey Fagan</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>2005</td><td>2007</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td><a href="/facts/Michael_Phelan_(police_officer)/o4KErbI7">Michael Phelan</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>2007</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td><a href="/facts/Roman_Quaedvlieg/Nr99QxcC">Roman Quaedvlieg</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>2010</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Rudi Lammers</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>2013</td><td>2016</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Justine Saunders</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>2016</td><td>2018</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant Commissioner</td><td>Ray Johnson</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a></td><td>2018</td><td>29 April 2020<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>Deputy Commissioner</td><td>Neil Gaughan </td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a> </td><td>29 April 2020<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></td><td>28 March 2024<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>Deputy Commissioner</td><td>Scott Lee</td><td><a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a> </td><td>28 March 2024<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></td><td><i>Incumbent</i></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>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. </p><p>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 <a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a>, followed by Assistant Commissioner <a href="/facts/Andrew_Hughes_(police_officer)/DLMh44J9">Andrew Hughes</a> <a href="/facts/Australian_Police_Medal/0cIyJsrK">APM</a> 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. </p><p>Between 2003 and July 2021, the title of Deputy Chief Police Officer has been used by both Commander rank deputies of the ACT Policing Executive. The position of Deputy Chief Police Officer is now held by an Assistant Commissioner.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="vehicles">Vehicles</h2> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/ACT_Corrective_Services/HTPgganj">ACT Corrective Services</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.police.act.gov.au">ACT Policing</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.afp.gov.au">Australian Federal Police</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070427054042/http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/national/2007/act_chief_police_officer_found_deceased">ACT Chief Police Officer found deceased</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.nswhwpp.fotopic.net/c1534772.html">ACT Police Traffic vehicle photos</a>[<i>permanent dead link</i>]</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Local woman preferable for police post". The Canberra Times. Vol. 21, no. 6, 172. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 January 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 19 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia. <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2705602" target="_blank">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2705602</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"50th Anniversary". The Canberra Times. Vol. 51, no. 14, 488. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 September 1976. p. 48 (50th anniversary supplement The Canberra Times). Retrieved 19 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia. <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110826588" target="_blank">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110826588</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Police women for Canberra". The Canberra Times. Vol. 21, no. 6, 327. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 July 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia. <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2720540" target="_blank">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2720540</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"50th Anniversary". The Canberra Times. Vol. 51, no. 14, 488. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 September 1976. p. 48 (50th anniversary supplement The Canberra Times). Retrieved 19 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia. <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110826588" target="_blank">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110826588</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"New Road Policing Centre opens in Hume". Justice and Community Safety Directorate. Retrieved 19 October 2023. <a href="https://www.justice.act.gov.au/latest-news/new-road-policing-centre-opens-in-hume" target="_blank">https://www.justice.act.gov.au/latest-news/new-road-policing-centre-opens-in-hume</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Jarrett, Janice (October 1999). "Murder of Assistant Commissioner Winchester". Australian Federal Police. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2009. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101205211945/http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/publications/platypus/previous-editions/1999/october-1999/murder.aspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20101205211945/http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/publications/platypus/previous-editions/1999/october-1999/murder.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"AFP Jobs". jobs.afp.gov.au. Retrieved 15 April 2023. <a href="https://jobs.afp.gov.au/work-with-us/areas-and-roles/specialist-protective-command#:~:text=Specialist+Protective+Command%27s+role+is,protest+and+issue-motivated+groups" target="_blank">https://jobs.afp.gov.au/work-with-us/areas-and-roles/specialist-protective-command#:~:text=Specialist+Protective+Command%27s+role+is,protest+and+issue-motivated+groups</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"AFP Jobs". jobs.afp.gov.au. Retrieved 15 April 2023. <a href="https://jobs.afp.gov.au/work-with-us/areas-and-roles/specialist-protective-command/tactical-response-team" target="_blank">https://jobs.afp.gov.au/work-with-us/areas-and-roles/specialist-protective-command/tactical-response-team</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Maddocks, Tom; Lowrey, Tom (29 April 2020). "ACT Chief Police Officer Ray Johnson quits to join Georgeina Whelan at ESA after devastating bushfire season". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 April 2020. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-29/act-chief-police-officer-ray-johnson-quits-new-esa-bushfire-role/12194346" target="_blank">https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-29/act-chief-police-officer-ray-johnson-quits-new-esa-bushfire-role/12194346</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Maddocks, Tom; Lowrey, Tom (29 April 2020). "ACT Chief Police Officer Ray Johnson quits to join Georgeina Whelan at ESA after devastating bushfire season". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 April 2020. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-29/act-chief-police-officer-ray-johnson-quits-new-esa-bushfire-role/12194346" target="_blank">https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-29/act-chief-police-officer-ray-johnson-quits-new-esa-bushfire-role/12194346</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Australian Federal Police (28 March 2024). "AFP appoints new Deputy Commissioners". Australian Federal Police. Australian Federal Police. Retrieved 14 July 2024. Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett will manage the National Security portfolio, and Deputy Commissioner Scott Lee has become the substantive Chief Police Officer of the ACT, following the retirement of Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan.> <a href="https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-appoints-new-deputy-commissioners" target="_blank">https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-appoints-new-deputy-commissioners</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Australian Federal Police (28 March 2024). "AFP appoints new Deputy Commissioners". Australian Federal Police. Australian Federal Police. Retrieved 14 July 2024. Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett will manage the National Security portfolio, and Deputy Commissioner Scott Lee has become the substantive Chief Police Officer of the ACT, following the retirement of Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan.> <a href="https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-appoints-new-deputy-commissioners" target="_blank">https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/afp-appoints-new-deputy-commissioners</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Deputy Chief Police Officer". Australian Capital Territory Policing. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2023. <a href="https://www.police.act.gov.au/about-us/structure/deputy-chief-police-officer" target="_blank">https://www.police.act.gov.au/about-us/structure/deputy-chief-police-officer</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>