Deputy Commissioner Scott Lee is the new ACT chief police officer.

Deputy Commissioner Lee, who has been acting in the role since February, has more than 38 years of policing experience, having first joined the Australian Federal Police in 1985.

He has worked in areas including combatting terrorism, organised crime, money laundering, organised fraud, human trafficking, child sex offences, people smuggling and foreign interference, and takes over the chief police officer role after performing recent roles as Assistant Commissioner of Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command and Assistant Commissioner Cyber Command.

Deputy Commissioner Lee replaces Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan who has retired after a 40-year career in law enforcement, including four years as chief police officer.

Deputy Commissioner Scott Lee said:“Some of my first key priorities will be ensuring we continue to keep Canberrans safe, the health and wellbeing of our people, that we have the right facilities for our people to work in and that we are continually looking at ways that we can innovate and improve to be the best policing operation in the country.

“I have worked in Canberra, different parts of Australia and in roles internationally. The ACT is very much where my family and I call home and it is a great honour to serve in this role and to serve this growing and diverse community.”

He is the 17th person to lead ACT Policing since the formation of the Australian Federal Police in 1979.