AFP chief hands over Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group leadership to US counterpart

The Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police has passed the leadership baton to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI).

Commissioner Reece Kershaw made the announcement today (20 October) after leading the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group – also known as FELEG – for the last two years.

According to Commissioner Kershaw, his time in the role has been an honour, and he fully expects FELEG to continue to be “among the first lines of defence” when it comes to international law enforcement and keeping people safe.

FELEG was formed around the previous Law Enforcement Strategic Alliance Group and is made up of the AFP, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, ICE/HSI, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the UK National Crime Agency, and New Zealand Police.

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“Recent world events make FELEG as relevant today as it was at the time of its inception; however, I would argue FELEG has never been more important,” Commissioner Kershaw said in a statement.

“That is because global instability is helping to fuel and embolden organised crime – criminals have weaponised technology and have become ruthlessly efficient at finding victims, and state actors and citizens from some nations are using our countries at the expense of our sovereignty and economies.

“Moreover, the world has never been smaller,” Commissioner Kershaw said. “Criminals are no longer bound by, or deterred by, state borders.”

“FELEG is a key alliance in helping to keep Australia and all our regions safe, protecting democracy and the rule of law around the world.”

David Hollingworth

David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.