Imagine having to police a war-torn nation with no laws, limited or damaged infrastructure and a deeply traumatised community. That’s what Australian police were faced with in late 1999 when they deployed to East Timor as part of a massive United Nations peacekeeping operation.

Michael Ward was one of hundreds of police who volunteered to help the people of East Timor after they had voted for independence from Indonesia, and after the new nation was almost destroyed by pro-Indonesian militias.

In this fascinating episode, Mike talks about training and preparing to deploy, the extremely tough living conditions for peacekeepers and the challenging duties he undertook. He also gives an insight to the at times absurd bureaucracy that can exist in major peacekeeping operations.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Australian police peacekeeping operations with the United Nations. The APJ has published several articles and podcasts about different aspects of police peacekeeping. They can be read or listened to at www.apjl.com.au.

The book ‘In the Service of Peace: Australian police involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations 1964 – 2024’ can be purchased either through AFP Legacy at https://policelegacyafp.org.au/shop/ or at the Australian War Memorial Bookshop at https://shop.awm.gov.au.

If you have a suggestion about the topics for future episode of Policing Australia, let us know at apj@apjl.com.au.

Host: Jason Byrnes APM
Guest: Michael Ward

In the latest podcast from the APJ, hear from two detectives involved in a missing person case which soon became a homicide investigation, and an investigation into criminal drug dealing.

Allecha Boyd was reported missing to police in mid-2017. Inquiries suggested the involvement of a local drug dealer and his associates.

Detective Sergeants Brent Fletcher and Tim Briggs talk about how police were able to build briefs of evidence sufficient to obtain convictions for murder and associated offences, despite being unable to locate Allecha’s body.

Police continued to investigate avenues of inquiry after the court cases concluded, to locate Allecha’s remains. Their persistence eventually succeeded, which enabled Allecha’s family to attain a sense of closure.

The article titled Cold Blooded Murder is in the June 2023 edition of the APJ, which can be read at www.apjl.com.au

Host: Jason Byrnes APM
Guests: Detective Sergeants Brent Fletcher and Tim Briggs

A horrid rape and robbery in December 2006 brought Ipswich detectives into contact with a man who had previously been convicted of multiple rapes and sexual assaults in Queensland and New South Wales. On this occasion however, police were initially unable to find direct evidence of the man's guilt. Over time, detectives were able to build a brief of evidence based on the principles of propensity evidence.

Former Detective Sergeant Darren Prickett led the investigation and joins host Jason Byrnes to talk about what occurred and how the brief of evidence was built. Darren's article - The Insatiable Rapist - was published in the June 2011 edition of the APJ, which can be read at www.apjl.com.au

Darren has also written two books about Australian military history. His latest - Crawl to Freedom - has been printed by Big Sky Publishing. It's a fascinating account of 40 Australian soldiers who escaped from German imprisonment during the Great War (the First World War). This has been a little-known aspect of Australian military operations between 1916 to 1918. Darren talks briefly about the book, including the amazing story of one Australian who made multiple escape attempts.

Subscribe to the APJ at www.apjl.com.au

Host: Jason Byrnes APM
Guest: Darren Prickett