Australian Defence Force Investigative Service

The Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS) is the body responsible for complex and major investigations involving the Australian Defence Force. The ADFIS conducts investigations of serious incidents and breaches of the Defence Force Discipline Act involving persons subject to DFDA jurisdiction. The ADFIS is a 'tri-service' unit and is manned by 150 members of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force. It was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Canberra.

Australian Defence Force Investigative Service
Agency overview
Formed2007
Preceding Agency
  • Military Police Special Investigation Branch (SIB), Naval Investigative Service (NIS), Air Force Special Investigations (SI)
JurisdictionDefence Force Discipline Act, Commonwealth of Australia
HeadquartersCanberra
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Group Captain Andy Roberts, CSM, Provost Marshal of the Australian Defence Force
Parent departmentDepartment of Defence

The ADFIS is commanded by the Provost Marshal ADF who reports directly to the Chief of the Defence Force.

Members of ADFIS are known as 'Investigators' rather than 'Agents', and as members of the Defence Force hold a rank within either the Army, the RAN or the RAAF.

The ADFIS investigate criminal and discipline matters in order to support ADF Commanders in the execution of their missions.

ADF Investigators conduct general policing and specialist investigative training at the Defence Force School of Policing (DFSP) at Holsworthy, NSW. In addition, ADF Investigators undertake specialist training in a variety of investigative practises with various Australian State and Federal policing organisations. Members obtain a Diploma in Government Investigations. The receipt of this training, in conjunction with broader military training, allows ADFIS members to apply best-practice policing methods in non-permissive operational environments.

Members work within a Joint Investigations Office (JIO).

History

The ADFIS was established after a specific recommendation of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference Committee from the report ‘The Effectiveness of Australia’s Military Justice System’ released in 2005. In April 2006, the position of the Provost Marshal of the Australian Defence Force directly under the Chief of the Defence Force was established and the Defence Investigative Capability Audit found the need for a tri-service investigative capability. In October 2006 the Chief of the Defence Force and Service Chiefs agreed to the formation of the ADFIS from the unification of personnel from the policing and investigative capabilities of each Service.

The ADFIS is the unification of the separate policing capabilities of each of the three services, but each service still maintains its own capabilities. The Royal Australian Navy maintains the Naval Police Coxswain branch with NPC postings on HMA ships and shore establishments. The Army maintains the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police which include general duties police members. The Royal Australian Air Force maintains the Air Force Police (formerly Security Police) which also includes general duties police members.

References
  • "Australian Defence Force Investigative Service Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  • "ADF Investigative Service open for business" (Press release). The Hon. Dr Mike Kelly Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence. 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  • Department of Defence MIlitary Justice Reform
  • Department of Defence REPORT ON THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION OF MEDIA ALLEGATIONS THAT DEFENCE STAFF INVESTIGATED THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE


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