The AFP Team Security Liaison Officers helped ensure the security of the Panama team ©AFP

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is celebrating the work of an all-female team that ensured the safety and security at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The AFP deployed an all-female security operation for a major women’s sporting event for the first time when it launched "Operation Tasman".

Run in partnership with state police, the operation aimed to provide security for the 16 teams based in Australia and four others that had travelled from co-hosts New Zealand to compete in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, staged from July 20 to August 20.

AFP Team Security Liaison Officers (TSLO) were tasked with coordinating safety and security alongside other law enforcement partner agencies.

They were each assigned an Australian-based team which saw them reside in the hotel, travel to training, media commitments and matches.

The AFP’s Specialist Protective Command also provided close protection to designated Australian high office holders, foreign dignitaries and internationally-protected persons during the tournament.

Leading senior constable Williams was the AFP TSLO responsible for ensuring a safe and secure environment for Panama who lost all three of their group matches but ran France close in their final fixture.

Panama celebrate scoring against France in the group stages ©Getty Images
Panama celebrate scoring against France in the group stages ©Getty Images

"I really enjoyed working collaboratively with the Panama team and sharing in their journey during the tournament," said Williams.

"Witnessing Marta Cox score Panama’s first-ever goal and observing the significance of this moment for the team and community was incredible.

"I took great pride in representing the AFP and in execution of my duties in order to support the team and ensure the overall success of the tournament."

AFP Acting Commander Rowena Penfold added: "Operation Tasman was a dedicated protective security resource to each team based in Australia, highlighting the AFP’ s commitment to the tournament's success, as well as the depth of experience of female sworn members.

"This is the first time in the history of the AFP that an all-female operational response has been deployed to an all-female sporting event, led by a female Commander.

"Furthermore, Operation Tasman highlights the strength of our working relationships with both our partner agencies in state and international police agencies as well as our relationships with industry, particularly FIFA."