Top cop's retirement march after 40 years of service

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has resigned with a year left on his contract. -AAP Image

A guard of honour will farewell Australian Federal Police boss Reece Kershaw as he steps down from the force's top job.

Mr Kershaw still had a year left on his contract as AFP commissioner when he told the federal government he wanted to resign.

On his final day as Australia's top cop, he'll march out of AFP headquarters in Canberra.

Other senior officers, their families and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will be among attendees at the ceremonial farewell.

Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett will officially take over from Mr Kershaw on Saturday, becoming the AFP's first female commissioner.

Ms Barrett has managed the national security portfolio in her current role.

She has been appointed for a five-year term as commissioner and has been praised by the government for her work in the Solomon Islands and for investigating the Bali bombings.

Mr Kershaw was the head of the NT police when he was promoted to AFP commissioner in 2019 by then home affairs minister Peter Dutton.

He also served in a number of AFP roles between 1988 and 2011, including postings to The Hague, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

His time as commissioner has seen his agency investigate a string of anti-Semitic attacks, including a the Dural caravan saga, where criminals staged a fake terror plot.

His work also focused heavily on countering child exploitation in Australia and overseas.