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01 Policing the Strait Policing the large sea and land mass comprising the Islands has its challenges, but AFP oicers say inter-agency cooperation is making the job of protecting ’s border more manageable.

he Torres Strait Islands are a With few oicers on the ground Resident Federal Agent hursday paradise in anyone’s language. Set and a large area of land and sea Island Keir Davis began working in in a maze of coral reefs, each is to cover, the Torres Strait nine months ago. bordered by pristine beaches and agencies in the region increase their He is one of two AFP members the clear waters of the Arafura and efectiveness by working together who work in the hursday Island Coral Seas. Largely untouched and and by adopting joint-agency, whole- oice and has experienced irst- untamed, it provides a haven for of-government approaches to law hand just how efective cooperative holiday-makers, but the police who enforcement. approaches to law enforcement can work there see the environment be in a diicult environment. he region’s main administrative hub quite diferently. is hursday Island. he island has “he nature of the work environment An archipelago of at least 274 been a key strategic location since here is both dynamic and islands situated between Australia 1877 when it was used as a base challenging,” he said. and Papua , the Torres for pilots to help ships to navigate “he geographical remoteness of Strait Islands represent Australia’s the treacherous reefs and shallow the region means I’m developing closest border to another country. waters of the Torres Strait. a very broad range of skills and a he border is also Australia’s most On hursday Island, the Australian great appreciation for how important luid, with Torres Strait Islanders and Federal Police operates from the relationships are to getting the job the coastal people of Papua New Commonwealth Oice building, as done up here.” Guinea permitted to move freely does the Department of Immigration Keir said that one of the biggest across the border without passports and Citizenship and the Department challenges in being posted to or visas to undertake traditional of Foreign Afairs and Trade. Just somewhere like hursday Island activities under the Torres across the road, Australian Customs is the geographical distance from Strait Treaty. and Border Protection Service physical operational support. occupy Customs House.

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“Better relationships are the key Keir said that the combination of the community to improve the to overcoming this challenge short geographical distance – only quality of information about potential successfully,” he said. 100 nautical miles at the shortest criminal activity and therefore route between the Cape and PNG increase apprehensions,” he said. Also working in the region is AFP – the shallow, relatively calm sea member and local tribal elder Willie “We’re working closely with our of the Torres Strait, the numerous Wigness, engaged on hursday national and international law islands dotted throughout the region, Island as an Investigative Assistant. enforcement partner agencies and the Torres Strait Treaty create Willie has worked with the Torres under the auspices of the Combined diiculties for one of the AFP’s main Strait community for many years and Intelligence Group to coordinate both tasks, policing the importation of his relationships and experiences strategy and tactical response to border-controlled substances. aford him an integral role in human the importation of border controlled source management and gathering According to Keir, cannabis has substances into the Torres Strait. local intelligence. Keir said that traditionally been the most widely We have very strong relationships between them they work to build as traicked drug in the region, but with partner agencies here. We have much support as they can to help recent detections of harder drugs, to support each other to achieve them achieve results. such as illegal pharmaceuticals results. and amphetamine type substance “Willie has very strong relationships “Recently, we arrested two Papua precursors, suggest that organised within the community and that New Guinea nationals who were crime might be seeking to use this ensures we get timely and accurate attempting to smuggle cannabis remote entry point in the hope of information,” he said. onto Darnley Island, 200km north- importing these illegal products east of hursday Island. Customs and “I work towards ensuring our into Australia. Border Protection had apprehended relationships with our partner “To improve our response to these the men and held them until we agencies are as strong as possible.” matters we continue to work with arrived at the island on the Customs

01: Australian Customs Vessel ‘Hervey Bay’ during a joint cross border patrol. 02: Members of a joint cross border patrol from the AFP, Police Service, Torres Strait Island Community Police, Royal PNG Constabulary and PNG Customs. 03: MV Mick Palmer. 04: Resident Agent’s residence on hursday Island. 05: An Australian Customs and Border Protection tender approaching Sigabaduru village PNG during a patrol.

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and Border Protection helicopter. criminality,” Keir said. than 95 per cent of them Papua Both men have been subsequently New Guineans. he mine provided In tandem with maintaining border convicted and sentenced to 141 32 per cent of Papua New Guinea’s security, the AFP is also committed days imprisonment for importing a total export earnings in 2007, but to keeping the communities on border controlled drug. it is expected to close some time the Torres Strait Islands safe. his from 2013 to 2020. he eventual he AFP regularly takes part in joint means keeping a close eye on closure of the mine is likely to have cross border patrols with Customs any developments that could signiicant social and economic and Border Protection, Queensland potentially alter the economic and implications for the region, including Police Service, the Royal Papua New social climate on the islands or in the possible collapse Guinea Constabulary and Papua neighbouring countries. of services. New Guinea Customs. hese patrols Ok Tedi Mine in the Western extend for ten days on a Customs Keir said that elders in Papua Province of Papua New Guinea and Border Protection Bay-Class employs nearly 2000 people, more vessel and allow all agencies involved to combine resources to visit the Torres Strait Islands and Papua New Guinea villages to gather intelligence and combat crime in the region.

“he ability of AFP, Customs and Border Protection, Queensland Police Service, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and Papua New Guinea Customs to provide a united front to the southern border areas of the Western Province provides a framework of further cooperation in targeting cross-border 01

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// It is only through the New Guinea villages are already the likelihood of widespread concerned about the lack of unemployment and dampen the passion and dedication meaningful employment for local potential afect on illegal activity,” of the people who work youth. Keir said. side-by-side each day, “Obviously, the closure of Ok Tedi is hursday Island and the Torres Strait going to add to this problem,” will continue to be a key stronghold regardless of which he said. for safeguarding the Australian agency or department community from crime while “It is possible that the mine closure protecting the traditional rights of the will lead to a growth in illegal activity they work for, that we will Papua New Guinea and Torres Strait in the Western Province and Torres continue to succeed. // Island communities. Strait as royalties and wages dry up. Keir said that balancing these two “here is some potential good news, responsibilities was diicult but though, with the Papua New Guinea achievable. Liquid Nitrogen Gas project which is currently in development stages in “It is only through the passion and the Southern Highlands and Western dedication of the people who work provinces of Papua New Guinea.” side-by-side each day, regardless of which agency or department they he project is expected to provide work for, that we will continue to a number of direct opportunities succeed,” he said. for locals including employment, education and training.

“Hopefully, this will reduce

01: Cannon at hursday Island’s Green Hill Fort. 02: he picturesque islands of the Torres Strait. 03: hird from left, Keir Davis with residents from Wipim village in PNG during a joint cross border patrol.

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