The ACC’s current Determinations were approved by the ACC Board on 15 June 2011 and commenced on 1 July 2011. All Determinations are approved for the next three years, except for Indigenous Violence or Child Abuse No. 2 Determination (NIITF) Special Intelligence Operation, which was extended for 12 months only.
This Determination focuses on target generation, development and intervention against the highest risk serious and organised crime targets which pose the highest threat and risk to the Australian community. The aim of the Determination is for the ACC, in partnership with key stakeholders, to:
- identify, detect and disrupt the highest risk serious and organised crime entities which represent the greatest threat in each jurisdiction and nationally
- reduce the threat posed by the highest risk criminal targets
- enhance national understanding of the serious organised crime environment.
This Determination continues to provide support to law enforcement agencies in developing intelligence and understanding, target development and investigations of child sex offences, in particular those child sex offenders involved in online exploitation, sharing of child pornography and abuse materials, and child sex tourism.
The Child Sex Offences Special Intelligence Operation was first approved by the ACC Board in June 2010, and was extended for a further three years in July 2011.
This Determination encompasses the ACC’s National Indigenous Intelligence Task Force (NIITF), which was established in 2006 to examine violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities. In February 2008, the Board approved the use of the ACC’s coercive powers under the Indigenous Violence or Child Abuse No. 2 Special Intelligence Operation.
The Determination is focused on enhancing the national understanding of the nature and extent of violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities through the collection and analysis of intelligence.
The Indigenous Violence or Child Abuse No. 2 Special Intelligence Operation was extended for 12 months, from 1 July 2011.
This Determination focuses on a range of drug markets which have been assessed in the ACC’s Organised Crime Threat Assessment. Priority will initially be given to critical and high risk drug markets (methylamphetamines, cocaine, MDMA and heroin) and the market for drug analogues. The Determination will proactively monitor the potential emergence of new illicit drugs and the processes, methodologies and precursor chemicals being used to manufacture illicit drugs in Australia. It will also monitor and report on drug importation routes and methodologies.
The High Risk and Emerging Drugs Special Operation incorporates work previously carried out under the Amphetamines and Other Synthetic Drugs 1 and 2 Special Intelligence Operation (May 2003–November 2005), Amphetamine Type Stimulants and New Synthetic Drugs determination, (December 2007–June 2011) and the Cocaine determination (June 2010–June 2011).
The ACC’s special investigation into financially motivated crime was approved by the ACC Board on 15 June 2011. This special investigation combines the previous objectives of the Money Laundering, Project Wickenby and Superannuation & Investment Fraud Determinations and is designed to:
- deliver financial intelligence that identifies high value targets and provides new investigative, proceeds of crime and intelligence opportunities for law enforcement and regulatory partners
- build on the collective national knowledge of the nature, methods and mechanisms of money laundering, nationally significant organised tax fraud and other financially motivated criminal activities
- contribute to making Australia unattractive for the promotion and use of abusive financial arrangements and money laundering activities exploiting vulnerabilities associated with tax and secrecy havens
- reduce the impact of superannuation and investment fraud on the Australian community
- produce nationally significant strategic intelligence that contributes towards whole of government policies and law enforcement decision making.
This Determination uses the ACC’s intelligence gathering capabilities, including its coercive powers, to develop a unique understanding of the threats and risks posed by serious and organised crime groups that impact on national security.
The National Security Impacts from Serious Organised Crime Special Operation incorporates work carried out under a number of previous partner support determinations (June 2010–June 2011), including Complex Organised Technology Enabled Crime, People Smuggling, Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime Penetration of the Border.
This Determination focuses on the development of intelligence that will inform prevention, awareness raising and target hardening strategies to make Australia’s society, institutions, industries and economy hostile to serious and organised crime.
The Making Australia Hostile to Serious and Organised Crime Special Operation incorporates work previously undertaken by the Complex Organised Technology Enabled Crime (including identity crime) partner support determination.
This Determination is one of two State specific Determinations which complement the work of the Highest Risk Criminal Targets Determination. The ACC provides specialist support to South Australia Police investigations through its coercive powers in order to improve intelligence holdings and collect evidence on High Risk Crime Groups operating within, or impacting on South Australia.
The aim of the Determination is for the ACC, in partnership with South Australia Police, to:
- enhance understanding of the nature, extent, activities, methodologies and identities of high risk crime groups and their impact on the South Australia and national community
- reduce the threat posed by the highest risk crime groups operating in or impact on Australia
- increase knowledge and understanding of high risk criminal targets and their impact on South Australia.
This Determination is one of two State specific Determinations which complement the work of the Highest Risk Criminal Targets Determination. The ACC provides specialist support to Victoria Police investigations through its coercive powers in order to improve existing ACC and Victoria Police intelligence holdings and collect evidence on the nature and extent of the serious and organised crime threat to Victoria.
The aim of the Determination is for the ACC, in partnership with Victoria Police, to:
- enhance understanding of the nature, extent, activities, methodologies and identities of high risk criminal groups and their impact on the Victoria and national community
- reduce the threat posed by the highest risk crime groups operating in or impact on Victoria
- increase knowledge and understanding of high risk criminal targets and their impact on Victoria.
Special Operations focus on gathering intelligence on a particular criminal activity, so informed decisions can be made about the extent, impact and threat of that criminal activity. The use of coercive powers has been approved by the Board for special operations.
Special Intelligence Operations only apply to determinations that existed prior to 1 July 2011 (Child Sex Offences and Indigenous Violence or Child Abuse No. 2). This is not a term that is used by the ACC any longer and has been superseded by the term ‘Special Operations’.
Special Investigations are designed not only to collect intelligence but also to disrupt and deter identified criminal groups through collecting evidence of criminal activity that may result in arrests and/or seizures of illegally obtained assets. Coercive powers, as well as a full range of traditional investigative methods, including telephone interception, surveillance devices and controlled operations legislation can be applied to a special investigation.
