Discover in this episode the types of duties search and rescue police undertake in Tasmania. Damian Bidgood served with Tasmania Police for 32 years, and for almost all of that time, he undertook search and rescue duties on land, on-and-under water, and in the air. He is the recipient of bravery awards and commendations for his actions, issued by Tasmania Police, the Royal Life Saving Authority, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

In this episode Damian talks about his experiences and career, including discussing some more notable search and rescue incidents he attended, including helicopter, cave and marine rescues.

Damian’s recent article about his career—When Seconds Count: Search and Rescue in the Wilds of Tasmania—is in the June 2026 edition of the APJ. The article and the whole magazine can be read online at www.apjl.com.au. Go to the website to take out a subscription for Australia’s pre-eminent true crime and policing publication.

Host: Jason Byrnes

Guest: Damian Bidgood

The availability of illicit tobacco in Australia has reached plague proportions, with organised crime involving itself in the smuggling and distribution of the product.

And here’s the strange part – the situation is the result of a public health policy success story!

This episode looks at the nature and scale of the problem as well as examines how policing the so-called heroin drought at the turn of the century might present some lessons for today’s law enforcement agencies.

The three articles are discussed in the episode are:

• ‘Tobacco Wars: An Australian Perspective’, written by Detective Inspector Rohan Best, which can be read at www.apjl.com.au/tobacco-wars/
• ‘Dual-edged benefits of drug policing: A quarter century’s lesson from a heroin drought’ is published in the Journal of Law and Economics, and can be accessed at It can be accessed at https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/jle/vol69/iss1/4/
• ‘As Australia’s tobacco wars continue, a NSW heroin drought in 2000 might offer lessons’, can be read at https://theconversation.com/as-australias-tobacco-wars-continue-a-nsw-heroin-drought-in-2000-might-offer-lessons-274537

Host: Jason Byrnes

Guests: Sergey Alexeev, Rohan Best and Dr Don Weatherburn

Visit www.apjl.com.au to learn more and subscribe.

What would be the challenges facing Australian police, should Australia find itself involved in an existential war for national survival?

The globe is currently experiencing intense geo-strategic rivalries and changing international norms. The Australian Government has described this era as being the most complex set of strategic circumstances since the end of the Second World War. War isn't certain, but many nations (including Australia) are currently building up their military capabilities and equipment levels, just in case.

This episode looks at Australian policing during the Second World War, and of Ukrainian policing in that nation's current defensive war against Russia, to identify what wartime policing could look like. Given the nature of modern war - especially the use of long range missiles, drones as well as acts of sabotage to cause civilian chaos - Australian police could find themselves effectively in the front lines. Further, police operations in wartime are likely to be impacted by societal anxieties, staffing availability and issues surrounding the reliability of equipment. Professionalism, innovation, resilience and dedication to service, will be critical for the policing of a nation at war.

The article that forms the basis of this episode -Total War: A Police Perspective - is in the March 2026 edition of the APJ. For more information, go to www.apjl.com.au.

Host: Gerard Dutton

Interviewee: Jason Byrnes APM