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

Police are called to a perplexing scene at a rural property where a man’s body was found lying face down, pinned to the ground by the rear wheel of his utility. There were no tools nearby. Was it a case of death by misadventure, or something more sinister?

A scientific officer develops a hypothesis which appears far-fetched at police headquarters. A reconstruction of the scene is undertaken, with amazing results.

Recently retired Deputy Editor Barry Fay joins Jason Byrnes to discuss the case, which Barry wrote about in the September 2003 edition of the APJ.

This podcast series is provided free of charge to subscribers and others with an interest in true Australian crime and policing. If you like the series, please leave a review on the podcast downloading platform.

For more information, access to the APJ, and to take out a subscription, go to www.apjl.com.au

Host: Jason Byrnes APM

Guest: Barry Fay

Former policeman Ronald Cornish talks about his time as a police peacekeeper with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Sixty years ago, Australia sent its first contingent of police to UNFICYP, to undertake monitoring duties of Greek Cypriot police. Australia’s contribution to UNFICYP eventually lasted 53 years, with the final contingent leaving in 2017.

In 1965 Constable Ron Cornish of the Tasmania Police was selected to be a member of the second contingent (at the time called the ‘Australian Police Element’). In this interview he recalls his experiences, the duties of the Australians, the challenges they faced on a daily basis, where they lived and what he and his colleagues did after-hours.

The interview was recorded as part of a special project regarding Australian police peacekeeping. A book about Australian police contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations – titled ‘IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE’ – will be released on 16 September 2024. It will be sold through AFP Legacy (www.policelegacyafp.org.au) and the Australian War Memorial (www.awm.gov.au).

Cypriot locations discussed: Nicosia, Kakopetria, Polis, Paphos/Ktima, Skouriotissa, Lefka, Astromeritis, Limassol, Morphou, Kokkina, the Troodos Mountains, the Solea Valley and Kato Pyrgos.

Host: Jason Byrnes

Guest: Ronald Cornish

Elder abuse is a crime long ignored or downplayed in society. This needs to change, especially as society ages. Abuse can be physical and/or psychological, is often committed by people the victim relies on or trusts, and can hasten a victim's death.

Rob Critchlow APM is the author of the article titled 'Dignity and Safety: Responding Effectively to Abuse of Older Persons', which is in the new (June 2024) issue of the APJ. Rob joins host Jason Byrnes, to talk about elder abuse awareness, the forms that abuse can take, and what police should be alert to when dealing with people over the age of 65.

Rob recently retired after 34 years as a police officer, and he also offers some insight into a busy and rewarding career, especially detective duties and being a local area commander.

The APJ is a subscription magazine which is available in hardcopy or at www.apjl.com.au. Go to the website for more details.

Host: Jason Byrnes APM
Guest: Rob Critchlow APM

Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan APM talks about his time as the Chief Police Officer (CPO) for the Australian Capital Territory. The experienced police officer has worked at the local and national levels for 40 years - starting as a general duties Constable in the ACT and ending up leading ACT Policing. On the way he held responsibilities for leading the Australian Federal Police's Counter Terrorism, Cyber and Organised Crime Commands, and the organisation's international engagements.

Having recently retired from the Chief Police Officer role, Gaughan talks about a range of issues including the unique challenges of policing the national capital, the impact of laws that have decriminalised the possession of most drugs, the impact of COVID-19 on ACT Policing, as well as aspects relating to the high-profile investigation into an alleged rape at Parliament House.

Author and APJ Deputy Editor, retired Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Fay, discusses his 2016 crime case article titled An Unexpected 'Mayday' in November – the callous murder of three men in NSW. The first two were shot inside a Sydney gun shop in 1977. The third victim was a police sergeant, gunned down in 1980 when he unknowingly asked too many questions of the offender in remote bushland to the west of Newcastle. The offender subsequently shot another police officer in an attempt to avoid capture.

This episode includes some of the actual police radio transmissions made in the aftermath of the murder of the sergeant and when the second police officer was shot.

This is a redux of Episode 2 - the sound quality of the original episode was affected by a poor telephone line.

Host: Jason Byrnes
Guest: Barry Fay

The story and more details about the APJ itself can be found at www.apjl.com.au

Music

Theme: Like We Do It by Grace Mesa, available at Premium Beat
End: Motivational Digital Piano & Cello by AudioChemicals, available at Audio Jungle