Border Protection Command (Australia)

The Australian Government's Border Protection Command (BPC) is a multi-agency command which was established in 2005 to coordinate the protection of Australia’s offshore assets. The command was originally named Joint Offshore Protection Command but was renamed in October 2006.

The Command is constituted by elements of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), with its headquarters in Canberra. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service is within the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Since September 2013, BPC has been part of Operation Sovereign Borders, which operates as a Joint Agency Taskforce. The Commander of OSB is Lieutenant General Angus Campbell.

The BPC delivers a coordinated national approach to offshore protection by operating as a single maritime surveillance, response and interception agency.

It detects and deters a wide range of illegal activities using a combination of Customs and Defence aircraft and vessels. Customs response assets include Coastwatch aircraft and National Marine Unit patrol vessels. Its activities take place under a variety of legislation covering areas such as customs, fisheries, quarantine, immigration, environment and law enforcement.

The ADF elements of BPC are commanded from Northern Command in Darwin, Northern Territory.

The Command is responsible for coordinating and controlling operations to protect Australia's national interests against the following maritime security threats:

• Illegal exploitation of natural resources
• Illegal activity in protected areas
• Unauthorised maritime arrivals
• Prohibited imports/exports
• Maritime Terrorism
• Piracy
• Compromise to Bio-security
• Marine pollution.

Appointees

See also

• Australian Border Force
• Operation Sovereign Borders

References

• Border Protection Command
• Rear Admiral Russ Crane Increasing our offshore maritime security