Customs Act 1901 - CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015

Administered by Department of Home Affairs

Legislation au F2015L00099 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015

Customs Act 1901

Subsection 4(4) of the Customs Administration Act 1985 (the Administration Act) provides that the Chief Executive Officer of Customs (the CEO) may give directions to officers of Customs.  Subsection 183UC of the Customs Act 1901 (the Act) provides that, without limiting the generality of subsection 4(4) of the Administration Act, the CEO may, by legislative instrument, give directions concerning:

–          the circumstances in which the powers in Division 1 of Part XII of the Act may be exercised; and

–          the officers of Customs who are entitled to exercise those powers; and

–          the manner and frequency of reporting to the CEO concerning the exercise of those powers.

Background

Section 189A of the Act provides authority for officers of Customs to carry arms in certain circumstances.

Subsection 189A(2) provides that, without limiting the matters that may be the subject of directions under subsection 4(4) of the Administration Act as modified by section 183UC, the CEO may give directions relating to:

–          the circumstances in which approved firearms and other approved items of personal defence equipment may be issued; and

–          the circumstances in which such firearms and other items of equipment are to be recalled; and

–          the circumstances in which such firearms and other items of equipment can be used and the manner of their use; and

–          the nature of the secure storage of such firearms and other items of equipment when recalled; and

–          any other matters relating to the deployment of such firearms and other items of equipment the CEO thinks appropriate.

Directions

CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015 (the Directions) contain directions made in accordance with subsection 189A(2) of the Act and provide for the operation of the Use of Force Order (2015) (the 2015 Order).  The 2015 Order contains the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service’s updated policy on the use of force.  The 2015 Order may be obtained from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

The Directions also revoke CEO Directions No. 1 of 2010, dated 3 August 2010, which provided for the operation of CEO Order 1 (2010) - Use of Force.

Consultation

No consultation was undertaken under section 17 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 before the Directions were made as they are of a minor or machinery nature and do not substantially alter existing arrangements.

Commencement

The Directions will take effect on the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.


Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

 

(Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011)

 

CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015 (incorporating the Use of Force Order (2015))

 

CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015 (the Directions) and the Use of Force Order (2015) (the Order) are compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

An overview of the human rights implications of the Directions and the Order is below.

Overview

In accordance with section 189A(2) of the Customs Act 1901, the CEO of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) may give directions relating to the deployment of approved firearms and other approved items of personal defence equipment (PDE).  The Directions set out such directions by reference to complying with requirements set out in the Order. 

The Order provides a policy framework for the issue and use of approved firearms and other items of PDE to authorised officers of Customs in the exercise of their statutory powers.  It covers competency standards, the accreditation of trainers, the qualification and re-qualification of officers of Customs in operational safety, reporting mechanisms, and management structures for the training and monitoring of operational safety in the ACBPS.  It also includes the requirement for the safe handling of firearms and other items of PDE.  The ACBPS Operational Safety Principles and Use of Force Model is detailed in the Order and guides officers of Customs in the use of appropriate force in the exercise of statutory powers.  It provides that the ACBPS policy is for the minimum amount of force to be used that is reasonable and appropriate for the effective exercise of statutory powers.  It also emphasises the use of negotiation and conflict de-escalation in any interaction between officers of Customs and members of the public.  Any use of force against another person by an officer of Customs in the course of their duties, must be in accordance with the Order.

The Directions will replace CEO Direction No. 1 of 2010 and CEO Order 1 (2010) – Use of Force to include amendments based on a transition to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) operational safety training model and the recent re-structure of the ACBPS.

Human Rights Implications

The Order promotes the following human rights:

Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

The Order promotes the right to safe and healthy working conditions in Article 7(b) of the ICESCR by: 

(a)   Ensuring that appropriate technical and vocational guidance and training programmes are provided to officers of Customs to enable them to safely use firearms and other items of PDE in the exercise of their statutory powers;

(b)   Promoting safe and healthy working conditions for the use of force by officers of Customs (for example, providing officers who patrol remote areas with appropriate PDE for protection from assault by other persons and emphasising that ACBPS considers the safety of officers of Customs and members of the public to be of paramount importance); and

(c)    Ensuring that persons injured or affected by use of force situations receive appropriate medical attention as soon as practicable.

 

Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

Article 6 of the ICCPR accords every human being the inherent right to life.  Under the Order principles of negotiation and conflict de-escalation are always emphasised as the first consideration prior to using physical force.  The Directions and Order promote the inherent right to life as they only direct officers of Customs to use lethal force when reasonably necessary (noting that they must act appropriately and in proportion to the seriousness of the circumstances), when other options are insufficient and only in self-defence from the immediate threat of death or serious injury or in defence of others against who there is an immediate threat of death or serious injury.  The Order specifically states that lethal force is an option of last resort, and that an officer of Customs who considers using lethal force must do so with a view to preserving human life. 

 

The Order also directs that if an officer of Customs uses force against another person, they must ensure that any person injured or affected by the use of force receives appropriate medical attention.  This further promotes the inherent right to life.  

 

Articles 7 and 10 of the ICCPR

These two articles provide the right for individuals to be free of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as the right to be treated with humanity and respect when deprived of liberty. 

 

The Order promotes these rights by:

(a)   Directing that it is ACBPS policy for officers of Customs to use the minimum amount of force reasonable and appropriate for the effective exercise of statutory powers;

(b)   Ensuring that only those officers who have completed operational safety training are approved to use items of PDE and firearms; and

(c)    Providing additional controls to suspend and / or revoke an officer’s permit to carry firearms and PDE if:

(i)      the officer is served with an interim domestic violence protection order, a domestic violence protection order, a restraining order, or any court order relating to the possession of an official or private firearm or PDE (note that where an officer of Customs is served with any of these orders, they are required to immediately report the fact and supply a copy of the order to his or her Manager or Director);

(ii)    the decision maker has reasonable concern that the officer is unfit or unsuitable to carry, access or use approved firearms and approved items of PDE;

(iii)  the officer is suspended from duty; or

(iv)  the decision maker reasonably considers that the officer is unfit to hold the authority.

 

The current approved operational safety training package contains a module on human rights which links the conditions of the Order with, inter alia, international human rights conventions.   The ACBPS operational safety principles and use of force model specifically refers to the expectation that officers of Customs will utilise negotiation and conflict de-escalation as a first option before considering the use of force. 

 

The Order also promotes:

 

  1. Article 24 of the ICCPR – the right of a child to be afforded protection required by his status as a minor; and

 

2.      Article 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognised as having infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child’s sense of dignity and worth,

 

because an officers of Customs may only use necessary and reasonable force in the exercise of statutory powers.

 

The Order also contains specific directions on situations where children and young people may be handcuffed, in particular, that handcuffs may not be used on children or young people unless an officer of Customs believes on reasonable grounds it is essential to safely transport the child to protect the welfare and/or security of the child or any other person.  In promoting Article 24 of the ICCPR and Article 40 of the CRC an officer of Customs must consider the following before deciding whether or not to handcuff a child or young person:

  • whether the person in custody is violent, or believed to be violent, or his or her demeanour gives rise to the apprehension of violence;
  • whether the person in custody has attempted, or is likely to attempt to escape;
  • whether the person in custody is required to be escorted with other detainees;
  • the necessity to prevent the person in custody from injuring him or herself, or any other person;
  • the necessity to restrain the person in custody to prevent the loss, concealment or destruction of evidence; or
  • whether the person threatens to expel a bodily fluid or has done so.

 

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it applies and seeks to promote a number of human rights in the ICESCR, ICCPR and CRC. 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer of Customs

Overview

The Customs Act 1901, enacted to regulate the administration of customs and border protection in Australia, addresses the need for clear guidelines and policies regarding the use of force and personal defence equipment by Customs officers. The Act empowers the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) to issue directions concerning the use of approved firearms and other personal defence equipment (PDE) by Customs officers. These directions are designed to ensure that the use of force is reasonable, appropriate, and proportionate to the circumstances, while also upholding human rights and ensuring the safety of both officers and the public. CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015, which incorporate the Use of Force Order (2015), provide the updated policy framework that governs the deployment, use, and storage of approved firearms and other PDE by Customs officers. The Directions and the Order are compatible with human rights, promoting principles such as the right to life, the right to safe and healthy working conditions, and the right to be free from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. They emphasise the use of negotiation and conflict de-escalation as the first option, reserving the use of force as a last resort, and ensuring that any use of force is strictly in accordance with the law and ACBPS policy. The Directions also incorporate changes based on the transition to the Australian Federal Police operational safety training model and recent restructuring within the ACBPS.

Scope and Application

CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015, which incorporate the Use of Force Order (2015), apply to officers of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) who are authorised to carry and use firearms and other approved items of personal defence equipment (PDE) in the execution of their duties. These Directions detail the circumstances under which such equipment may be issued, used, recalled, and stored, and also outline the competency standards and training requirements for officers to ensure the safe and responsible use of these tools. The Directions also establish protocols for the reporting of incidents involving the use of force and define the minimum amount of force to be used in accordance with the principles of negotiation and conflict de-escalation. The geographic reach of these Directions is national, impacting all officers of Customs across Australia. The Directions do not specify any exclusions or exemptions but they are subject to the broader framework of the Customs Act 1901 and related legislation. The application of these Directions may be extended or further defined through subordinate instruments issued by the Chief Executive Officer of Customs. In summary, CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015 are integral to ensuring that the use of firearms and other PDE by Customs officers aligns with both statutory requirements and human rights principles, particularly focusing on the safety and rights of both officers and the public. These Directions, by detailing the operational safety protocols and use of force guidelines, are designed to uphold the inherent right to life and the right to be free from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as articulated in various international human rights instruments.

Key Provisions

CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015, under subsection 189A(2) of the Customs Act 1901, outline the directives for the deployment of approved firearms and other approved items of personal defence equipment (PDE) by officers of Customs. These directions are meant to comply with the requirements set forth in the Use of Force Order (2015), which provides a policy framework for the issue and use of approved firearms and other PDE by authorised officers in the exercise of their statutory powers. This includes competency standards, the accreditation of trainers, the qualification and re-qualification of officers in operational safety, reporting mechanisms, and management structures for the training and monitoring of operational safety within the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS). (Section 189A(2)) These Directions impose several obligations on the parties governed by them. Firstly, they require officers of Customs to undergo appropriate technical and vocational guidance and training programmes to safely use firearms and other PDE. This training is crucial to ensure that officers are competent and knowledgeable about the safe handling of these items. Secondly, the Directions mandate that officers must use the minimum amount of force that is reasonable and appropriate for the effective exercise of their statutory powers. This includes emphasising negotiation and conflict de-escalation as the first option before resorting to physical force. Additionally, the Directions require officers to ensure that any person injured or affected by the use of force receives appropriate medical attention as soon as practicable. (Use of Force Order (2015)) Breach of these directions can result in various consequences. The Use of Force Order (2015) includes provisions for the suspension and revocation of an officer’s permit to carry firearms and PDE under certain circumstances. For instance, if an officer is served with an interim domestic violence protection order, a domestic violence protection order, a restraining order, or any court order relating to the possession of an official or private firearm or PDE, they are required to report this immediately to their Manager or Director. Furthermore, if the decision maker has reasonable concern that the officer is unfit or unsuitable to carry, access, or use approved firearms and approved items of PDE, or if the officer is suspended from duty, their permit may be suspended or revoked. The decision maker may also revoke the permit if they reasonably consider the officer unfit to hold the authority. Failure to comply with these provisions can lead to disciplinary action and potential legal consequences. (Use of Force Order (2015)) In summary, CEO Directions No. 1 of 2015, along with the Use of Force Order (2015), set out the framework for the deployment and use of approved firearms and other approved items of personal defence equipment by officers of Customs. These Directions impose significant obligations on officers to ensure they are trained and act in accordance with the law, while also promoting human rights and ensuring the safety of both officers and the public. Breach of these Directions can result in serious consequences, including the suspension or revocation of an officer’s permit and potential disciplinary action.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.