Australian police officer gains anti-terrorism expertise from Cheshire force | Macclesfield Express – menmedia.co.uk

December 14, 2011

Team Leader Nick Barrett from the Australian Federal Police (left), Inspector Graeme Trevis from the Police National Search Centre and other officers taking part in the specialist search training course

An Australian police officer joined Cheshire police for specialist training to combat terrorism.

Nick Barrett, a team leader with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), joined 25 Cheshire officers on the specialist search training course.

The exercises included combing buildings, vehicles, fields, roads and other open areas for items which could be parts of improvised explosive devices.

The AFP is planning to set up a similar course in Australia.

Australian government expands spy agency’s powers

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By Mike Head -1 June 2011

The minority Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard is moving to significantly expand the surveillance powers of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the country’s political spy agency to monitor anyone overseas, including Australian citizens, considered a threat to “national economic well-being,” “security” or “foreign relations.”