Terror threat for all police in Australia raised to high, in line with national alert level

Updated

Australia's domestic security agency has raised the national terrorism threat level for all police to high.

The threat level for police moved from medium to high for officers across the country in recognition of the danger they face as first responders.

Australia's national alert level was raised to high in September last year, classifying a terrorist attack as likely but not imminent.

It also follows the recent terror-related events such as the siege in Sydney's Martin Place, shootings at the Canadian Parliament in October and a number of shootings in France that began with an attack on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The Australian Federal Police issued a statement this morning citing recent terrorism events around the world as reasons for elevating the alert level.

Recent terrorist events 'a sobering reminder of the risks'

"The factors that lead to the elevated terrorism threat level for Australia to high in September 2014 persist and the security environment remains increasingly complex and challenging," the statement said.

"Recent events in France, Canada and Australia serve as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with policing."

Police said while relatively small, an increasing number of Australians linked to overseas terrorist groups had the intent and capability to conduct an attack against Australian police.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said there was no one event that led to the raised alert.

We know that police are regularly faced with emergency situations and violent incidents, but in this current climate, in this current environment, we must emphasise the need for vigilance, awareness, for preparedness, and for operational readiness. Acting New South Wales Police Commissioner Catherine Burn

"The new threat level specifically has taken into account instances of attacks on police internationally on a number of occasions in the past few months," Commissioner Stewart said.

"There has been no one specific incident that has occurred in Australia which has triggered the reassessment to the higher level."

Commissioner Stewart said police in Queensland had been advised to be aware of their environment and their own personal safety as well as that of their loved ones.

He said concerns raised last year about a lack of body armour for police had been addressed.

"I was very clear that we do have adequate ballistic vests available for all of our police when they're doing their normal duties and we have in place the concept that if an officer feels that they need to wear personal, covert body armour, then they can apply for that and it will be granted," he said.

States' top cops call on nation's police to be 'vigilant'

South Australia's Assistant Police Commissioner Bryan Fahy said Tuesday's change was a formal alignment of the threat level for police and the general terrorism threat level, and noted that all jurisdictions reviewed their security and risk management strategies in September.

"SAPOL has reinforced the need for all its staff to remain vigilant and maintain ongoing situational awareness," he said.

"The message provided to the wider community to go about normal daily life but with a heightened sense of awareness and a willingness to report suspicious behaviour to police has not changed.

"Information from the public may be vital to ensuring that police can keep our community safe."

Acting New South Wales Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said security at police stations and the monitoring of officers had been enhanced in recent months.

"We know that police are regularly faced with emergency situations and violent incidents, but in this current climate, in this current environment, we must emphasise the need for vigilance, awareness, for preparedness, and for operational readiness," she said.

"I'm confident that our officers are trained, that our officers are equipped, and our officers are able to do that job of protecting the community."

Chief Police Officer for the ACT Rudi Lammers said while police would maintain a highly visible presence, there would not be a noticeable increase in police activities.

"While there is no specific threat to the ACT, the factors that led to the elevated alert level to high in September 2014 persist," Officer Lammers said.

Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine also said there was no specific threat against the state and urged the wider community to be vigilant but not alarmed.

"We'll... make sure we reinforce some security measures for them [police] as well," he said.

"We're living in a different world at the moment. And we do have to make sure we keep the community safe."

Topics: defence-and-national-security, terrorism, federal-government, government-and-politics, police, law-crime-and-justice, australia, wa, nt, act, nsw, qld

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