- Australian Border Force to patrol Melbourne CBD as part of anti-social behaviour operation
- By Nicole Hasham
- 28/08/2015 Make a Comment (1)
- Contributed by: Shane ( 2 articles in 2015 )
Immigration Minister Peter Dytton, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg.
$10 million splurge to rename Australian Border Force
The Australian Border Force is not just keeping unwanted arrivals from reaching our shores – this weekend it will randomly target potential visa fraudsters in the heart of Melbourne.
For the first time officers from the federal government's new paramilitary unit will join transport officials and police to target crime among people "travelling to, from and around the CBD", in a measure dubbed Operation Fortitude.
Border officials will join those from Metro Trains, Yarra Trams, the Sheriff's Office, Taxi Services Commission and Victoria Police on the streets of Melbourne.
Don Smith, ABF Regional Commander for Victoria and Tasmania, said officers will be positioned "at various locations around the CBD speaking with any individual we cross paths with".
"You need to be aware of the conditions of your visa … if you commit visa fraud you should know it's only a matter of time before you're caught out," he said.
The ABF began in July and combined Customs and Immigration functions. Officers have more powers than former department officials, including the power to detain offenders, carry guns, and gather intelligence.
The Australian Border Force logo.
During the operation on Friday and Saturday night, ABF officials will conduct "compliance field-work" to promote "a secure and cohesive society" in Melbourne.
Fairfax Media has sought information from the ABF including whether it will conduct spot visa checks, whether people will be forced to talk to border officials and whether they will target those of foreign appearance.
The ABF has also been asked if the measures will be deployed at other cities across Australia, and why police cannot be tasked with the job.
The operation has been ridiculed on social media ahead of its launch at 2pm Friday.
Border officials will join those from Metro Trains, Yarra Trams, the Sheriff's Office, Taxi Services Commission and Victoria Police.
Mr Smith said the group "will continue to work together on an ongoing basis to target crime in and around the Melbourne CBD to make the city a safer place for everyone".
As Fairfax Media reported this week, the government spent $10 million on rebranding to create the ABF, including military-style uniforms and thousands of signs at airports and detention centres to create a fresh, hardline image.
Some $6.3 million was spent kitting out 4500 ABF officials with new uniforms, insignia, name badges, buttons and safety helmets.
Victoria Police Transit and Public Safety Command Acting Superintendent Campbell Mill said the group would work "in the best interests of Melbournians [sic]".
"There is a lot of truth to the saying that there is strength in numbers," he said.
"While we are all separate organisations we all have something in common – a responsibility to keep our community safe. In order to do that we need to ensure that people are behaving appropriately."
https://www.facebook.com/victoriapolice/posts/941373445934792
The Australian Border Force is not just keeping unwanted arrivals from reaching our shores – this weekend it will randomly target potential visa fraudsters in the heart of Melbourne.
"There is a lot of truth to the saying that there is strength in numbers"
For the first time officers from the federal government's new paramilitary unit will join transport officials and police to target crime among people "travelling to, from and around the CBD", in a measure dubbed Operation Fortitude.
Border officials will join those from Metro Trains, Yarra Trams, the Sheriff's Office, Taxi Services Commission and Victoria Police on the streets of Melbourne.
Don Smith, ABF Regional Commander for Victoria and Tasmania, said officers will be positioned "at various locations around the CBD speaking with any individual we cross paths with".
"You need to be aware of the conditions of your visa … if you commit visa fraud you should know it's only a matter of time before you're caught out," he said.
The ABF began in July and combined Customs and Immigration functions. Officers have more powers than former department officials, including the power to detain offenders, carry guns, and gather intelligence.
The Australian Border Force logo.During the operation on Friday and Saturday night, ABF officials will conduct "compliance field-work" to promote "a secure and cohesive society" in Melbourne.
Fairfax Media has sought information from the ABF including whether it will conduct spot visa checks, whether people will be forced to talk to border officials and whether they will target those of foreign appearance.
The ABF has also been asked if the measures will be deployed at other cities across Australia, and why police cannot be tasked with the job.
The operation has been ridiculed on social media ahead of its launch at 2pm Friday.
Border officials will join those from Metro Trains, Yarra Trams, the Sheriff's Office, Taxi Services Commission and Victoria Police.
Mr Smith said the group "will continue to work together on an ongoing basis to target crime in and around the Melbourne CBD to make the city a safer place for everyone".
As Fairfax Media reported this week, the government spent $10 million on rebranding to create the ABF, including military-style uniforms and thousands of signs at airports and detention centres to create a fresh, hardline image.
Some $6.3 million was spent kitting out 4500 ABF officials with new uniforms, insignia, name badges, buttons and safety helmets.
Victoria Police Transit and Public Safety Command Acting Superintendent Campbell Mill said the group would work "in the best interests of Melbournians [sic]".
"There is a lot of truth to the saying that there is strength in numbers," he said.
"While we are all separate organisations we all have something in common – a responsibility to keep our community safe. In order to do that we need to ensure that people are behaving appropriately."
https://www.facebook.com/victoriapolice/posts/941373445934792
Source: https://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-border-force-to-patrol-melbourne-cbd-as-part-of-antisocial-behaviour-operation-20150828-gj9qtd.html
1Will not be visible to public.
2Receive notification of other comments posted for this article. To cease notification after having posted click here.
3To make a link clickable in the comments box enclose in link tags - ie.<link>Link</link>.
4To show an image enclose the image URL in tags - ie.<image>https://fredspage.com/box.jpg</image>. Note: image may be resized if too large
To further have your say, head to our forum Click Here
To contribute a news article Click Here
To view or contribute a Quote Click Here