The Directorate is responsible for reviewing and developing policy and legislation across the justice and community safety portfolio.
Our law enforcement regime maintains the public safety and social order of the community.
A variety of organisations and programs come together to identify and respond to crime, safety and justice priorities.
Information about the ways we promote, support and protect rights.
All about the Human Rights Act, how it works and the review process.
FOI gives members of the community a legally enforceable right to access documents held by government.
Access to a range of emergency response information.
Our emergency response framework.
Members of our community who respond in emergencies.
Safety considerations and information for personal and family wellbeing.
How we keep our community safe.
Information about the Infrastructure Safety and Security Grants Program.
Business obligations for safe workplaces.
Keeping ACT Government assets and information secure.
A national approach to security preparedness and planning.
How we keep safe on ACT roads.
The Directorate is responsible for legislation dealing with commercial regulation in the ACT.
In the ACT there are rights and responsibilities that regulate how business owners, their staff and their customers interact.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes activities to ensure compliance to regulations.
The Directorate educates the ACT community and industry on regulatory functions and obligations.
The Directorate is responsible to the Attorney-General, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, the Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and the Minister for Corrections.
The Directorate plays a vital role in providing information and advice to the Minister and supporting ACT representation in national fora.
The Directorate's responsibility for government activities of justice administration, rights protection, business regulation and emergency services.
ACT Corrective Services delivers adult correctional and detention services.
ACT Courts and Tribunal deliver justice through sentencing in criminal cases and rulings in civil cases.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency is responsible for emergency management planning and response.
The ACT Government Solicitor provides legal advice and services to the ACT Government and its agencies.
The Legislation and Policy Branch provides policy advice and research services to develop ACT policies and legislation.
The Office of Regulatory Services undertakes registration and business regulation functions.
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office provides legislative drafting and publishing services for ACT legislation.
Policing services in the ACT are purchased from the Australian Federal Police.
The Security and Emergency Management Branch is responsible for protection and emergency planning for all hazards, including counter-terrorism.
A number of independent statutory agencies are administered under the portfolio umbrella of justice and community safety.
Victim Support ACT provides specialised assistance to help victims of crime participate in the justice process.
The Director of Public Prosecutions provides independent and effective criminal prosecution services.
Elections ACT is responsible for conducting elections and referendums for the ACT.
The ACT Human Rights Commission promotes the human rights and welfare of people living in the ACT.
The Public Advocate protects the interests, rights and dignity of vulnerable people and those with a disability.
The Public Trustee provides independent, professional trustee and asset management services.
The Work Safety Commissioner promotes and educates stakeholders on matters relating to workplace safety in the ACT.
Media information relating to the justice and community safety portfolio.
This section details the ways to contact the Department as well as agency locations.
This section provides access to our searchable database of publications.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is responsible for policing in the Australian Capital Territory. The AFP provides this service through its community policing arm, ACT Policing. ACT Policing services are provided under the auspices of a five-year ACT Policing Arrangement between the Commonwealth and ACT governments. The Arrangement defines the overarching powers and relationships between the involved parties, and provides for the establishment of an annual Purchase Agreement.
The 2011-2012 Purchase Agreement details 32 key performance indicators and outlines the nature and cost ($140 million) of police services that will be provided to the ACT through the AFP.
The Police Agreement covers:
The Policing Arrangement enables the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to provide general direction on policy, priorities and goals to the Chief Police Officer in the form of a Ministerial Direction - all of which provide mutual benefits to the respective organisations, Governments and predominately the ACT community.
The 2011 Ministerial Direction identified the following special areas of focus:
The Policing Arrangement between the Commonwealth and ACT Government describes the overarching powers and the ways in which the parties relate to one another.
2011-2016 Policing Arrangement
2006-2011 Police Arrangement
The police purchase agreement is negotiated annually outlining the nature of the services provided, performance indicators, reporting requirements and the price for the service.
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2007-2008
2006-2007
Ministerial Directions
The Ministerial Direction sets out the ACT Government priority areas in policing.
Current Ministerial Direction
Review of police use of TasersJoint Policing StudyIndependent Review of Pursuit Guidelines