Editors --- "Olympic preparations gather speed as 2000 approaches" [1999] AUFPPlatypus 31; (1999) 65 Platypus: Journal of the Australian Federal Police, Article 4

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Olympic preparations gather speed as 2000 approaches

Although overall responsibility for Olympic security rests with the NSW Police, the AFP has responsibility for Commonwealth law enforcement and has already been put to the test in a number of small but tactically significant cases of Olympic-related crime.

Operation Attica, the codename for the AFP's Olympic planning, has been up and running for almost 18 months, with Federal Agent Steve Jackson, Director of Specialist Operations, in charge of the process.

The principle focus of AFP activities during the Games will be on dignitary protection, Commonwealth law enforcement (including participation in border security strategies with other Commonwealth agencies), the service provided by our overseas liaison officers and ACT policing. Investigation of Olympic-related crime and response to Olympic issues will be afforded a high priority.

The AFP's role during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games is very much one of ‘business as usual', but with an additional emphasis on providing a capability to deal with increased volumes of work. However, the sheer size of the event, not to mention the potential for Olympic-related crime of all types to impact negatively on the reputation of Australia, means that a multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional approach to the task has been adopted.

As a consequence, the AFP is working closely with the NSW Police Olympic Security Command Centre (OSCC), Olympic Intelligence Centre (OIC), Crime Agencies and the Protective Security Group (PSG). Furthermore our relationships with State and Territory police, as well as with our usual partners at home and abroad continue to develop and improve.

Among the initiatives aimed at fostering these relationships are secondments and the provision of liaison officers and advisers to key agencies. Equally important has been an increased focus on strategic partnerships with overseas enforcement agencies and their Australia-based representatives.

Training of personnel in surveillance, close personal protection and Olympic fraud and counterfeit currency issues has also been a priority. One of the more significant resource contributions the AFP is making to Olympic security is the provision of 44 officers to the NSW Police dignitary protection operation.

In-house preparations continue to advance

The AFP's entire inventory of soft body armour has been replaced and additional holdings have been provided in certain areas. Replacement of the old Smith and Wesson revolvers with Glock self-loading pistols, and the purchase of relevant equipment for surveillance and close personal protection teams, along with additional training, is also underway.

Forensic staff numbers have been increased and a state-of-the-art forensic capability will be up and running before the Games, with work on the new laboratories in Weston having commenced in October.

The mobile radio communication system in Eastern Region has been upgraded and will include a second network. This will result in a better system that is cheaper to run, more flexible in its operation and will provide a far greater redundancy capability in the event of interruption to normal operations.

Security planning for the ACT Region commitments in relation to Olympic football qualifying matches is well advanced. Approximately 100 Olympic Volunteers in Policing have been identified to assist at Bruce Stadium during Olympic football matches, and planning continues for the ACT leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.

AFP members have also participated in numerous counter-terrorist exercises conducted by the PSCC under the auspices of SAC-PAV. Participation has also taken place in a range of discussion and table-top exercises examining scenarios concerning chemical-biological-radiological (CBR) incidents.

In addition, many federal agents are undergoing refresher courses in the use of force, bomb searches, emergency management and firearms training.

Less than a year out from the Games, there have already been several cases that fall into the category of ‘Olympic-related crime'.

For example, the AFP were recently involved in coordinating the case against a Thai man known as Ron Tsang, who was running a scam from Bangkok that offered language training, travel to Sydney and employment at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at a cost of US$2600. The total value of the fraud passed US$600,000.

After the Thai police executed a search warrant at his hotel room in July and seized a number of items bearing the SOCOG logo, the man was arrested for ‘cheating'. Information subsequently received by the AFP indicated that the man, known by another name in Australia, owed a large amount of money here and was the recipient of an undischarged Austrade grant.

Lao Fu Sheu, also known as Ron Tsang and Robert Porras, received a 20 month custodial sentence in October.

Other cases include an attempt by a person attending a SOCOG function to recruit another guest to act as a cocaine courier, and the suspected involvement of an authorised agent for The Olympic Club overseas with persons connected to narcotics and people smuggling.

These are just some examples of the many threats and opportunities inherent in such a complex and internationally prominent event such as the Olympic Games — the largest peace-time operation in the world.

The Games provides an environment where the potential exists for crime to flourish. Key risks to the Olympics from the AFP's viewpoint are organised crime, politically motivated violence, narcotics trafficking, fraud, people smuggling, counterfeit currency and offences committed in the ACT.

However, Federal Agent Jackson believes that the real test of our ability to combat crimes such as these will be the Australian law enforcement community's willingness to engage in a cooperative effort to guard the Games.

By working together and sharing each others special areas of expertise, we will return to the Australian community and the world at large a safe and secure Olympic Games.