The Australian Federal Police was not trying to intimidate journalists when it raided the ABC's Sydney headquarters and the Canberra home of a News Corp reporter, according to its top officer.

Key points: AFP rejects claims it's trying to intimidate journalists with raids at the ABC and Annika Smethurst's home

AFP rejects claims it's trying to intimidate journalists with raids at the ABC and Annika Smethurst's home Acting Commissioner Neil Gaughan says the raids were carried out independent of the Federal Government

Acting Commissioner Neil Gaughan says the raids were carried out independent of the Federal Government He's not ruling out the prospect of laying further charges, including against journalists

AFP Acting Commissioner Neil Gaughan insisted officers undertook the raids of their own volition, and that they had not been initiated by the Federal Government.

The raids on Annika Smethurst's home on Tuesday and the ABC on Wednesday have drawn criticism from rights groups, who say it is a clear attack on press freedom.

Commissioner Gaughan said the raids were part of an investigation and alleged there had been an unauthorised leak of national security information to journalists.

"I reject the claim we are trying to intimidate journalists," he said.

"The AFP is a strong supporter of press freedom."

The AFP spent eight hours inside the ABC offices during the raid, which was sparked by a series of 2017 stories known as the Afghan Files.

The stories, by ABC investigative journalists Dan Oakes and Sam Clark, revealed allegations of unlawful killings and misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan and were based on hundreds of pages of secret Defence documents leaked to the ABC.

Officers spent a similar amount of time in Smethurst's home over a story she authored 14 months ago, detailing purported secret government considerations to give agencies greater powers to spy on Australians.

"I need to emphasise in the strongest possible terms that neither the Government nor any minister has directed the actions of these investigations," Commissioner Gaughan said.

ABC lawyers met with Australian Federal Police officers at the ABC's headquarters in Sydney. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe )

Labor has repeatedly blamed Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Peter Dutton for the raids.

But Mr Morrison, speaking from London, rejected that and distanced himself and his ministers from the AFP raids.

He said AFP operations were carried out "at complete arm's length" from the Government.

Commissioner Gaughan refused to rule out charges being laid, including against journalists.

"I'm not going to rule in or rule out anyone subject to further charges," he said.

ABC managing director David Anderson said AFP officers left the Sydney offices with about 100 documents on two USBs.

He said the documents would remain sealed for two weeks while the ABC assessed its legal options.

Media outlets around the world have raised the concerns about the raids being an attack on press freedoms.

But Commissioner Gaughan was adamant no-one should be above the law.

"No sector of the community should be immune to this type of activity or evidence collection more broadly," he said.

"This includes law enforcement itself, the media or, indeed, even politicians.

"There are criminal allegations being investigated and we cannot ignore them. We are duty bound to conduct these investigations impartially and thoroughly."