EP#9: Fighting Crime during Covid 19 - with Reece Kershaw, and Michael Outram

Unity of purpose has been a fundamental characteristic of Australia’s response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

While our medical experts have been looking to subdue the virus, our crime fighting experts have been working hard to minimize the impact of criminals in Australia and from overseas.

And just as the performance of team Australia’s health experts has been recognised for its effectiveness, so too the efforts to keep our police officers safe and well. In fact, no less than the New York Police Department have been on the phone to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) asking how it was done.

In this week’s episode of Work with Purpose, contentgroup Founder and CEO, David Pembroke, sits down with Commissioner of the AFP, Reece Kershaw, and Commissioner of the Australian Border Force, Michael Outram (ABF).

Reece began his career in the AFP in the late 80’s serving in the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Victoria. Commissioner Kershaw has worked outside the AFP including time with the National Crime Authority, the Australian Crime Commission, as well as postings to the Hague, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands. He was also commissioner of the Northern Territory Police.

Michael Outram is the Commissioner of the ABF, the law enforcement agency responsible for offshore and onshore border control, enforcement, investigations, compliance, and detentions in Australia.

Commissioner Outram began his policing career on the streets of London. He served 20 years in the Metropolitan policing service rising to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector working in Anti-Corruption, Anti-Terrorism, and major investigations teams.

He came to Australia on secondment to the New South Wales police force.  He liked the weather and stayed. Since then he has worked in numerous high-profile crime fighting roles with both the Australian Crime Commission and the AFP before joining the ABF in 2015. He was sworn in as commissioner in 2018. And just like Reece Kershaw, Michael Outram is known for his integrity.

Discussed in this episode:

-         The challenges of enforcing values and meeting community expectations

-         How Australians have responded to the challenge of the pandemic

-         Protecting staff.

-         Closing international and regional borders

-         Preparing for upcoming pressures in a post COVID-19 environment

-         The increase of crime during the pandemic

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