Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show a new cautious approach within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to deal with Australians arrested overseas who are at risk of the death penalty.

The finding comes as preparations resume for the executions of the Bali Nine pair, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, in Indonesia.

The documents obtained by ABC's Lateline are copies of ministerial briefings and correspondence between the AFP and federal government ministers about Australians arrested for drug trafficking in foreign countries.

In 2009 the AFP's guidelines were changed. Now police must inform a federal minister and consider whether sharing information with foreign agencies could place Australians at risk of the death penalty.

Brisbane barrister Bob Myers is a family friend of Bali Nine drug courier Scott Rush, and says the documents show a major cultural shift has occurred within the AFP.

"They say they'd do the same thing again today as they did then but that's not indicated by the applications that have been made to the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice," Mr Myers said.

Bob Myers says the documents show a major cultural shift has occurred within the AFP. ( Lateline )

"In 2005 they acted in a cavalier fashion, whereas now, they are giving consideration to the Australian citizen and even suggesting to the Government that they should give the information to a foreign country on the basis that it may well assist the Australian citizen with his defence."

The documents obtained by Lateline show that between 2009 and 2015, the AFP sought permission from federal government ministers to share information with foreign authorities about Australians facing a potential death penalty on 13 occasions.

Most of the cases involved Australian citizens arrested for attempting to smuggle the drug ice into foreign countries.

The documents show the reasons why the AFP wanted to share information with foreign agencies about Australians facing the death penalty overseas.

In October 2010, the AFP wrote to the then minister for home affairs, Labor's Brendan O'Connor, about a man facing the death penalty for trafficking ice and heroin in a foreign country.

"Australian citizen x was arrested in the company of others by the x. It is alleged that x was part of a syndicate involved in the illegal trafficking of narcotics from x and Australia," the AFP said in the briefing.

"Given the minor nature of x criminal history, the release of the information may assist x in sentencing, particularly that he has no previous criminal convictions for narcotics offences."

But the application was not originally approved. It was scrutinised by the minister and extra detail was sought.

Only upon further detail being sent by the AFP, was the application approved.

AFP sensitive to potential media criticism

Other ministerial briefings also show how sensitive the AFP is to potential media criticism of its treatment of Australians in trouble abroad.

Last year the AFP was contacted by the lawyer for an Australian man facing the death penalty for smuggling ice.

The prisoner had been giving information to the AFP about the smuggling operation, so the man's lawyer sought a letter of support from the AFP.

The AFP wrote to Justice Minister Michael Keenan.

"There is potential risk to the AFP should it not comply with x solicitor's request, as the media may report the lack of assistance to an Australian citizen who is facing the death penalty, a punishment which the Australian Government has had a long standing objection," the letter said.

Last month at the Lowy Institute the AFP signalled it would soon say more about its role in the arrest of the Bali Nine drug smuggling group in 2005.

"I will answer those questions. I believe we need to answer those questions. We will answer them when we can but now is not the day," Commissioner Andrew Colvin said.