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The investigative knowledge and powers of the Army, Air Force and Navy
have merged to form a new capability – the ADF Investigative Service
(ADFIS).
The unit was officially launched on April 2 at the unit’s headquarters
in Canberra. It comprises the investigative elements of the Naval Police,
Army Military Police and Air Force Security Police.
The newly appointed Provost Marshal ADF, COL Tim Grutzner, said the unit
came about because of the 2005 Defence Investigative Capability Audit
(DICA).
“There were 99 recommendations made in the audit and one of them
was to form a joint unit,” COL Grutzner said.
“The other 98 recommendations of the DICA report were about improving
the processes of investigations, so we will be able to do more investigations
and respond quicker. Most importantly, we also will be fixing the training,
the policy, the technology and the equipment the investigators utilise.”
He said the primary role of ADFIS would be to assist the CDF and the Service
Chiefs to maintain ADF discipline through the lawful, ethical and effective
investigation of Service offences.
“Only the serious, complex and major offences will come to ADFIS
for investigation,” he said.
There are 142 personnel in the unit and they are based in 27 locations
across Australia and overseas, working in joint investigation offices.
“The guidance at the moment from the CDF is that we form the unit
from the current numbers of investigators, and after 12 months of operation
we will review it and see if we need to change the structure,” COL
Grutzner said.
COL Grutzner said two other significant recommendations were made in the
DICA report regarding how investigators would gain intelligence to do
their job and how the three Service police organisations were commanded.
“We are forming a dedicated police intelligence cell within the ADFIS
headquarters in Canberra, which will look at the information we get to
support investigations on the ground,” he said.
“This will also allow us to be able to cooperate with the state and
federal police on issues that overlap between the Defence and civilian
communities.”
The other recommendation was the requirement for an ADF Provost Marshal.
“We have never had one before; we have had one for Army, Navy and
Air Force, but have never had anyone at the strategic level on policing.”
He said the formation of the unit would raise the professionalism of the
ADF’s investigative capability.
“The outcomes will be a better response, more effective investigations
and better service to commanders,” he said.
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