Merge crime-fighting bodies, audit says

The federal fingerprint people could merge with the crime fighters and maybe even the financial whizzes to create a mega-crimefighting body.

The national commission of audit report suggests a number of law enforcement bodies could be merged to boost efficiency.

First, Australia's peak criminal investigation and intelligence body, the Australian Crime Commission, could absorb the criminal information body CrimTrac.

Then financial intelligence organisation Austrac should be reviewed to determine if it, too, should merge with the ACC.

The audit report said the agencies were working well together but CrimTrac could join the ACC to better harness their collective resources.

CrimTrac, established in 2000, is the federal agency responsible for information sharing between federal, state and territory law enforcement bodies.

That includes criminal records, stolen vehicles, fingerprints, DNA, arrest warrants, firearms and firearm licence holders.

Austrac, formed in 1989, tracks financial transactions to target money laundering, tax evasion, welfare fraud and terrorist financing.

The report says relocating the Australian Institute of Criminology to a university should also be considered.

However the Australian Federal Police should remain a separate body, it said.