The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett has pledged to identify and penalise the person responsible for leaking details of the high-profile arrest of former Special Air Service officer Ben Roberts-Smith at Sydney Airport.

Speaking at Senate Estimates, Barrett expressed disappointment over the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive operational information relating to the arrest, which occurred on 7 April as Roberts-Smith arrived from Brisbane with his teenage twin daughters.She stressed that up to nine agencies were aware of the planned arrest date, highlighting the coordinated nature of the operation.

Barrett explained that the decision to conduct the arrest at an airport was based on operational considerations, including the controlled environment it provided.

She also indicated that allowing Roberts-Smith to surrender voluntarily was considered unviable due to intelligence suggesting he may have been planning to relocate overseas, and concerns that he had no fixed residential address.

The AFP has stated that the arrest formed part of broader investigations conducted under Operation Emerald Argon, a joint initiative launched in December 2021 to examine alleged war crimes involving Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.

According to Barrett, the investigation has been overseen by a dedicated board and supported by senior officers responsible for operational decisions.She noted that Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney chaired the oversight board, which supported the proposed charges against Roberts-Smith on 31 March.

The matter was subsequently referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland provided consent for the arrest on 1 April.

Barrett reiterated that any unauthorised disclosure of operational details would be taken seriously and could result in consequences for those involved.