Tracking violent crime - Australian Institute of Criminology

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THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE (ABCI) The Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence (ABCI), based in Canberra, is a multijurisdictional agency established in 1981 and administered by the Federal, State and Territory Governments. The Board of Control comprises all Australian Police Commissioners, and the Australasian Police Ministers Council (APMC) is responsible for policy matters relating to the ABCI. The ABCI’s role includes the collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of both strategic and tactical criminal intelligence to law enforcement agencies in Australia. This includes the research and distribution of criminal intelligence, the identification of national projects for operational action, liaison with other relevant agencies, and recommendation of proposals for legislative changes to combat organised crime. The ABCI is staffed by both seconded police officers and civilian analysts. The Bureau provides a coordinated approach to processing criminal intelligence. The Australian Law Enforcement Intelligence Network, (ALEIN), is networked to police services providing easy and timely access to information. In 1994, following the Belanglo murders in New South Wales, the ABCI was tasked to undertake a national assessment of unsolved homicides, missing persons and serious offences. Recommendations emanating from the 1994 ABCI Audit Review included; the introduction of a behavioural analytical capability be pursued by the Bureau through cooperation with those agencies which have commenced to develop behavioural analytical capabilities, the conducting of a behavioural analysis conference and development of info capture, collation and analysis framework, using the strengths of the US, British, Canadian, European models. In May 1994, the ABCI Board of Control directed that the Bureau develop a national behavioural analytical capability for law enforcement, including implementing a system designed to link offences across Australia, as well as criminal investigative analysis, formerly known as criminal profiling. In February 1995, the Australian Violent Crime Analysis Centre (AVCAC) was formed at the ABCI to provide a behavioural analytical capability for law enforcement. 2
BACKGROUND TO AVCAC The proposal to set up a linkage system and a Criminal Investigative Analysis Unit in Australia had been discussed for some time. Various feasibility reports were completed by the National Police Research Unit (NPRU). In 1990 - 1991, two Australian police officers completed the Police Fellowship program at the FBI Academy, Quantico, USA. . One of these police officers, Detective Inspector Bronwyn Killmier from South Australia has since been seconded to the Bureau to establish the Australian Violent Crime Analysis Centre (AVCAC). The second officer, a Victorian resigned from his Home Force in 1994. During 1992 discussions were held at senior level amongst Australian Police Services as to the best way to formulate a national analytical unit and its appropriate location. A Working Party examined the common police services and determined that the ABCI was the most appropriate location and a centralised concept being the best alternative. The proposal, although supported by the jurisdictions in principle, did not eventuate due to budgetary constraints. Following on from the recommendations made in 1994, the ABCI and the South Australia Police Department jointly conducted a ViCLAS/Criminal Investigative Analysis Course in Adelaide in November 1994. Personnel from the FBI and the Canadian Ontario Provincial Police were keynote speakers at the Workshop which included participants were from all Australasian State and Territory police services including New Zealand. The course was considered a success in both marketing terms as well as providing the framework for a network of coordinators throughout Australasia. SERVICES OFFERED BY THE AVCAC The AVCAC has responsibility for five separate areas; • Criminal Investigative Analysis, formerly known as Criminal Profiling This not only includes completing profiles on unknown offenders, but also member provide crime analysis, threat analysis, interview strategies, investigative suggestions, equivocal death analysis and scientific content analysis. These services are offered in a wide range of areas including murder, extortion, sexual offences, missing person enquires and arson. • The National Missing Persons Unit (NMPU). This Unit is Federally funded for four years and has a three pronged approach to the issue of missing persons. It coordinates the National Advisory Committee on Missing Persons comprising of representatives from Community Groups who work in this area, 3
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Page 5 and 6: As well as Canada, ViCLAS has now b
Page 7 and 8: Modern transport enables offenders
Page 9: CONCLUSION The AVCAC has been inter

Tracking violent crime - Australian Institute of Criminology

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