Australian Federal Police

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) welcomes the inclusion of the National Missing Persons Unit (NMPU), which has been relocated from the Australian Crime Commission to better reflect the role of the unit within the law enforcement community, AFP Acting Deputy Commissioner John Lawler announced today.

The NMPU provides a national coordinated service to reduce the incidence and impact of missing persons in Australia.

Since its establishment in 1996, the NMPU has been based in the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence. When the ABCI merged with two other crime agencies to form the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) in January 2003, it was decided that the role and functions of the NMPU did not fit within the ACC's mandate, which targets serious and organised crime.

The new appointment of the NMPU within the AFP came into effect on 1 July 2003.The location of the NMPU within the AFP's International Operations framework will best place the NMPU to liaise with and support law enforcement efforts in the field of missing persons, both within Australia and overseas.

The NMPU works in partnership with law enforcement, Commonwealth and State government agencies, non-government tracing organisations and the community, and is recognised as a national and international authority on missing persons.

"The National Missing Persons Unit has developed an outstanding reputation in its field, and the AFP looks forward to the opportunity to learn from and build on the Unit's established partnerships with law enforcement, government and non-government agencies, as well as the wider community," said Mr Lawler.

"As the host of the National Central Bureau for Interpol in Australia, the AFP is ideally placed to draw on its links with the international law enforcement community via its international liaison network to assist the NMPU in maintaining lines of communication with overseas authorities involved in the missing persons field," he said.

The national launch of National Missing Persons Week 2003 will take place in Glebe Park, Bunda St, Canberra today Monday 4 August at 10am.