Editors --- "Milestone a time for celebrating partnerships" [1999] AUFPPlatypus 23; (1999) 64 Platypus: Journal of the Australian Federal Police, Article 5

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Milestone a time for celebrating partnerships

The AFP's 20-year milestone has been recognised by law enforcement agencies worldwide. Some of their congratulations and reflections follow.

Please let me be among the first to offer the heartfelt congratulations of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the 20th anniversary of the Australian Federal Police. Milestones such as these are important ones. They offer time for reflection of past successes – and failures – as well as moments for us to envision and set a course for the future.

Australia has certainly been on the forefront of policing and we have been fortunate to work with you, as well as able to learn from you. It was following a visit to your country when the RCMP began to fully support restorative justice and have now begun to reap the enormous benefits of this alternative form of justice in many Canadian communities.

I have certainly been very interested in the work done by your agency and not only in the area of policing. Although it took the RCMP more than 60 years before we determined that communication was important enough to warrant a magazine, your agency understood the importance of this issue from the outset. Our hats are off to Platypus Magazine for the important communication link it provides on many policing issues.

JPR Murray

Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

New Scotland Yard has maintained an excellent operational and convivial relationship with the AFP throughout the whole of its 20-year existence. This relationship has been initiated, fostered and supported through the professionalism exhibited through the efforts of . . . AFP liaison officers to London . . .

Alan Fry, QPM, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Police (Directorate of Intelligence)

The relationship between the US Secret Service and the AFP is one that has yielded significant benefits for our protective and investigative responsibilities. I look forward to furthering that relationship.

Brian L Stafford

US Secret Service

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for twenty years of outstanding service as a partner in the fight against international drug trafficking. The volume of articles on the AFP's flagship publication "Platypus" covering counterdrug law enforcement activities is indicative of both the seriousness of the problem and the level of commitment of the AFP to combat it.

These articles highlight the fact that drug trafficking is a crime without borders, and that only through cooperation on a world-wide scale can the perpetrators of these crimes be brought to justice. We at the Drug Enforcement Administration look forward to the next twenty years of international law enforcement cooperation with the AFP.

Donnie R. Marshall

Acting Director, Drug Enforcement Administration

At the brink of the 20th Century, mankind's dream of a drug-free society has yet to come true. The new millennium beckons the world community to step up efforts to eliminate the drug menace, with renewed zeal, vigour and commitment.

During year 1998, Pakistan Anti Narcotics Force continued its excellent relationship with all the drug liaison offices of different countries stationed at Islamabad. The relationship between AFP and ANF was, however, of a special nature due to the timely passage of intelligence by the devoted and zealous AFP officers at the Islamabad office.

The AFP's assistance during the year has been greatly appreciated and the ANF looks forward to the same level of excellent relationship during the years to come.

Lt. Col Sajid Nawaz

Joint Director, Special Investigation Cell, Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Anti Narcotics Force, Pakistan

It gives me great pleasure to extend the greetings and best wishes of the men and women of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) as you approach your organization's 20th anniversary.

We continue to enjoy a strong working relationship with those members of the AFP who have served in Washington as liaison officers to the law enforcement community. Our Office of Fugitive Investigations benefits from one of the most cooperative working relationships with the AFP as exists anywhere around the world. Those who have served here as liaison officers have displayed the highest integrity, dedication to duty, and a willingness to help us accomplish our mission for the mutual benefit of our respective countries.

Established in 1789, we are the oldest Federal law enforcement agency in the U.S. and truly understand the significance of celebrating the history and traditions of an agency. While much younger than the USMS, the AFP has garnered many accomplishments already and plays a significant role in today's law enforcement programs throughout your country and around the world. We are linked by far more than just the bond of a common language, the personnel of our agencies pursue their missions each day with the same vigor and dedication necessary to fight crime and win for the citizens of our countries. Our deputies have come to rely on the AFP and appreciate the assistance that you have provided so frequently.

We look forward to many years of cooperation on those matters of mutual interest.

Eugene L Coon Jr

Acting Deputy Director, US Marshals Service

As Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service, and on behalf of all sworn and unsworn staff, I congratulate the Australian Federal Police on the 20th Anniversary of its formation. The relationships and co-operation developed throughout those 20 years has never been stronger and more beneficial to Australian law enforcement objectives. The Queensland Police Service looks forward to the continuing relationship in the future.

JP O'Sullivan

Commissioner, Queensland Police Service

With the opening of the AFP Liaison office in Hanoi during the middle of this year, Vietnam-Australia cooperation extended beyond culture, science and trade to fighting crime, particularly narcotic trafficking. And it is time to further strengthen this cooperation.

"The initiation of Australian-sponsored programs designed to assist the capacity of local agencies in the fight against drug trafficking will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on transnational crime. Global cooperation strategies are our key to success, and in this regard our relationship with the AFP liaison office in Hanoi has been very effective. We are very pleased with the way in which the police relationship is maturing and this bodes well for future cooperation.

Vietnamese Minister for Justice, H.E. Dr Nguyen Dinh Loc, and

Vice-Minister for Public Security, H.E. Major-General Le The Tiem.

On behalf of the men and women of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate all members of the Australian Federal Police on twenty years of dedicated service to the Australian people. Though we are vastly separated geographically, today's transnational crime issues bring us together in a working relationship as close as next door neighbors.

Through this kind of close cooperation, the AFP, FBI, and all law enforcement agencies worldwide, form an alliance that makes today's criminal element less of a threat to the law abiding people of our nations. The FBI is proud to be associated with you, and we look forward to working with you on many successful investigation in the days ahead.

Louis J. Freeh

Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation