Protocol Guidelines
11. PROTECTIVE SECURITY
11.1 Australia's security obligations
11.1 Australia's security obligations
The Australian Government takes very seriously its obligations under the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations for the protection of diplomatic and consular missions and their staff. These obligations have been implemented in Australia by the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1967 and the Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1972, and augmented by the Public Order (Protection of Persons and Property) Act 1971 and the Crimes (Internationally Protected Persons) Act 1976.
The right to freedom of expression and peaceful political protest is a key part of Australia's system of democracy. The Department expects that diplomatic and consular missions will accept the inevitability of protest activity directed at missions from time to time, provided that the safety and dignity of missions are respected and protected.
The protection of diplomatic and consular missions is provided on the basis of assessments of threat.
The primary operational responsibility for law enforcement and public order rests with the police of the State or Territory concerned. In the ACT this is the Australian Federal Police (AFP), ACT Region - also known as ACT Policing.
The Protective Security Coordination Centre (PSCC), which comes within the portfolio of the Attorney-General's Department, has responsibility for coordinating the protection of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel in Australia. As part of that role, the PSCC liaises with the relevant police authorities, security agencies and government departments in order to assess the level of threat. It then tasks the Australian Protective Service (APS) to provide physical protection to missions and posts where this is deemed necessary. This complements State and Territory policing arrangements within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
11.2 Protection of personnel and premises
There are a number of elements which combine to make up a package of preventative and protective measures. The most visible of these are static guards which may be placed from time to time at diplomatic missions and consular posts, vehicle patrols and close order (personal) protection. Not as visible but just as important are other measures which include immigration controls, intelligence, community liaison and the Australian Government's crisis management arrangements.
An important part of any security package must be the level of primary security that individual missions themselves provide such as perimeter security, entry controls, duress and intruder alarms and so on. An inadequate effort on the part of missions and posts to provide for their own primary physical security can limit the effectiveness of protection that Australian protective agencies are able to provide. It may also increase the risk of property loss and damage through criminal activity such as burglary. The police forces are happy to advise diplomatic or consular missions on security arrangements if requested.
Static guards are only provided to missions or posts where there is a need for this level of protection. Static guards are provided where there is a specific threat and where it has been decided that static guards, as opposed to other protective arrangements such as alarms or mobile patrols, are required by the nature of the particular threat.
The PSCC, through the APS, provides a monitoring and response service to alarms which individual missions and posts may have installed in chanceries and head of mission residences. This service is provided free of charge except for line connection, maintenance and rental, the costs of which are the responsibility of the mission or post.
The Australian Protective Service (APS) may be engaged to monitor alarms at other staff residences and at the residences of honorary consuls but this will be charged for. The APS is unable to provide a response service to alarms in residences of staff and honorary consuls. In these cases, the services of a private security company should be engaged - the APS will monitor the alarm regardless of whether the APS or a private company provides the response service.
Regular security briefing sessions are conducted by the PSCC for members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps. In addition, the AFP, State police and APS maintain close liaison with missions and posts, particularly those subject to threats or incidents.
In the ACT, New South Wales and Victoria, guarding will normally be provided by the APS. The APS provides regular vehicle patrolling of the areas where missions and posts are located. These patrols cover chanceries, consular offices and official residences of Heads of Mission/Post. In cases of specific threat, patrols may also be deployed to cover staff residences. In New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, the APS is also authorised to act independently, in immediate response, where a particular threat develops or an incident takes place.
In the other States and the Northern Territory local police would provide whatever security was considered necessary. Normal community policing arrangements apply. These can be reinforced where a particular situation might require additional resources.
11.3 Responding to emergencies and incidents
It is important to note that in an emergency the police should, wherever possible, be the first point of contact. Of course, where installed, duress alarms (whether connected to the APS or any other security agency) should also be used.
Missions and posts should ensure that the following telephone numbers are readily available in the case of an emergency. For example, they should be provided to receptionists and displayed in a prominent place inside the mission or post. It is also important that all staff and family members know the number to call.
In an emergency in all States and Territories |
Dial 000 (for police, fire brigade or ambulance) |
In the ACT, NSW and Victoria: |
Dial 131 444 for the police |
In Queensland (Brisbane area) |
Dial 3364 6464 for the police |
In South Australia |
Dial 131 444 for the police |
In Western Australia |
Dial 9222 1111 for the police |
In Tasmania |
Dial 6230 2111 for the police |
In the Northern Territory (Darwin) |
Dial 8987 8888 for the police |
Diplomatic and consular staff should also get to know the telephone number for their local police station.
Where there is a security incident or threat, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Protocol Branch) should also be advised as soon as possible on (02) 6261 3581 or (02) 6261 2273, or through the Protocol Branch duty officer number (02) 6273 1355 (outside business hours). If they have received a threat, missions and posts should provide details of the nature of the threat, the source of the information or the means by which the threat was conveyed and any other relevant details.