AFP boss Andrew Colvin says there would be cutbacks to police targeting gangs in the next Budget

EXCLUSIVE: The national war against gangs, gun-crime and drugs is facing “substantial” cutbacks because of a $100 million budget hit to federal police and national security programs.

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THE AFP boss has warned police squads ­targeting gangs and gun crime could be axed in the face of budget cuts of up to $100 million to federal police and national security­ programs.

AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said under questioning in Parliament that there would be “substantial” cutbacks to the policing of gangs, gun crime, fraud and illegal drugs if no extra funding was provided.

He also revealed he has not been able to budget for pay rises for officers. It comes as Prime Minister Malcolm ­Turnbull sought to put terrorism and gun crime on the agenda to divert attention­ away from the cut to ­Sunday penalty rates.

Australian Federal Police arrest a man at a premises following a raid in Young last week.

Mr Colvin said he was prioritising the most crucial­ areas for the AFP to focus on as a result of budget cuts, and that the National Anti-Gangs Squad and measures­ to target illicit gun crime had no future funding.

“Our core operational areas around organised crime, our drug work, our fraud work, are areas where I do have some ability to turn on or turn off according on other priorities,” Mr Colvin said.

Asked what operations would cease as a result of budget cuts, Mr Colvin said: “There will be the National Anti-Gangs Taskforce. The funding will lapse in that period.”

Mr Colvin said counter-terrorism was the “high priority” and that there would be substantial changes to other areas. “I have obligations to try to meet my budget,” he said during Senate Estimates. “To do that I have to prioritise the work I do and ­counter-terrorism always gets high priority.”

AFP chief operating officer Andrew Wood said the force would provide a full list of programs that did not have funding before forward estimates.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin. Picture: Kym Smith

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said police should be given the resources ­needed to ensure the safety of Australians. “At a time of heightened security­ risk there is simply no excuse for not giving our police the resources and ­support they need,” he said.

Opposition Justice Spokesman Clare O’Neil said the ­government talked a big game about law and order but showed hypocrisy by slashing the AFP’s budget: “The effects of these cuts on community safety will be massive.”

The $100 million budget cut was introduced by Labor and applies to the AFP, ASIS and ASIO. Justice Minister Michael­ Keenan last night said $100 million would not be cut from the AFP, adding that no Australian government­ had dedicated more resources to tackling illicit gun crime than the Coalition.

“Over the past year the government has funded the AFP for specific measures such as extending the National Anti-Gang Squad, TURF Taskforce, and Rapid Lab,” he said.

“Since August 2014, the government has invested over $1.5 billion to combat terrorism, with this funding contributing to multiple national security outcomes.”

An AFP spokesman said: “As the Commissioner also said at Estimates, should that mission or taskforce need to continue beyond its nominated end date, the AFP will discuss with government a new measure to extend the funding further. That is precisely what has happened ... in the past, and will happen again.”