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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
Crimes (Assumed Identities) Act 2004
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
Act No.
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Clause Page
PART 1--PRELIMINARY 1
1. Purpose 1
2. Commencement 2
3. Definitions 2
PART 2--AUTHORITY FOR ASSUMED IDENTITY 6
4. Application for authority to acquire or use assumed identity 6
5. Determination of applications 7
6. Form of authority 9
7. Period of authority 10
8. Variation or cancellation of authority 10
9. Yearly review of authority 11
10. Making entries in register of births, deaths and marriages 11
11. Cancellation of authority affecting entry in register of births,
deaths and marriages 12
12. Cancelling entries in register of births, deaths and marriages 13
PART 3--EVIDENCE OF ASSUMED IDENTITY 14
13. Request for evidence of assumed identity 14
14. Government issuing agencies to comply with request 14
15. Non-government issuing agencies may comply with request 14
16. Cancellation of evidence of assumed identity 15
17. Protection from criminal liability--officers of issuing agencies 15
18. Indemnity for issuing agencies and officers 15
PART 4--EFFECT OF AUTHORITY 17
19. Assumed identity may be acquired and used 17
20. Protection from criminal liability--authorised persons 17
21. Indemnity for authorised persons 18
22. Particular qualifications 18
23. Effect of being unaware of variation or cancellation of authority 19
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Clause Page
PART 5--MUTUAL RECOGNITION 20
24. Requests to a participating jurisdiction for evidence of assumed
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identity 20
25. Requests from a participating jurisdiction for evidence of
assumed identity 20
26. Directions from a participating jurisdiction to cancel evidence
of assumed identity 21
27. Indemnity for issuing agencies and officers 21
28. Application of this Act to authorities under corresponding laws 22
PART 6--COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING 23
Division 1--Misuse of Assumed Identity and Information 23
29. Misuse of assumed identity 23
30. Disclosing information about assumed identity 24
Division 2--Reporting and Record-keeping 25
31. Reports about authorities for assumed identities etc. 25
32. Record keeping 26
33. Audit of records 27
PART 7--GENERAL 29
34. Delegation of chief officer's functions 29
35. Regulation-making power 30
36. Transitional provisions 30
ENDNOTES 32
INDEX 33
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PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
Initiated in Assembly 31 March 2004
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
A BILL
to provide for the lawful acquisition and use of assumed identities for
law enforcement purposes and the recognition of things done in
relation to assumed identities in other jurisdictions and for other
purposes.
Crimes (Assumed Identities) Act 2004
The Parliament of Victoria enacts as follows:
PART 1--PRELIMINARY
1. Purpose
(1) The main purpose of this Act is to facilitate, for
law enforcement purposes, investigations and
5 intelligence gathering in relation to criminal
activity, including investigations extending
beyond Victoria.
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s. 2
(2) The main ways in which that purpose is to be
achieved under this Act include--
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
(a) providing for the lawful acquisition and use
of assumed identities; and
5 (b) facilitating mutual recognition of things done
in relation to assumed identities under
corresponding laws.
2. Commencement
This Act comes into operation on a day or days to
10 be proclaimed.
3. Definitions
In this Act--
"acquire" an assumed identity, means acquire
evidence of the identity and includes taking
15 steps towards acquiring evidence of the
identity;
"agency" means--
(a) an issuing agency; or
(b) a law enforcement agency;
20 "Australian Crime Commission" means
Australian Crime Commission established by
the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002
of the Commonwealth;
"authorised civilian" means a person (other than
25 a law enforcement officer) who is authorised
under an authority to acquire or use an
assumed identity;
"authorised officer" means a law enforcement
officer who is authorised under an authority
30 to acquire or use an assumed identity;
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"authorised person" means--
(a) an authorised civilian; or
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(b) an authorised officer;
"authority" means an authority granted under
5 section 5 to acquire and use an assumed
identity, including the authority as varied
under section 8;
"chief officer"--
(a) of a law enforcement agency, means--
10 (i) in relation to Victoria Police--the
Chief Commissioner of Police;
(ii) in relation to the Australian Crime
Commission--the Chief
Executive Officer of the
15 Australian Crime Commission;
(b) of an issuing agency--means the chief
executive officer (however described)
of the agency;
"conduct" includes any act or omission;
20 "corresponding authority" means--
(a) an authority under a corresponding law
to acquire or use an assumed identity in
this jurisdiction; or
(b) an authority under a corresponding law
25 to request the production of evidence of
an assumed identity;
"corresponding law" means a law of another
jurisdiction that is declared by the
regulations to correspond to this Act;
3
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"criminal activity" means conduct that involves
the commission of an offence by one or more
persons;
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
"doing" a thing, includes failing to do the thing;
5 "evidence" of identity, means a document or
other thing that evidences or indicates, or can
be used to evidence or indicate, a person's
identity or any aspect of a person's identity;
"government issuing agency", in relation to an
10 authority, means any of the following named
in the authority that issues evidence of
identity--
(a) a person or body (whether incorporated
or not) that performs any function of
15 the government of this jurisdiction; or
(b) a person or body (whether incorporated
or not) prescribed by the regulations for
the purposes of this definition;
"issuing agency" means--
20 (a) a government issuing agency; or
(b) a non-government issuing agency;
"jurisdiction" means the Commonwealth or a
State or Territory of the Commonwealth;
"law enforcement agency" means the following
25 agencies--
(a) Victoria Police;
(b) the Australian Crime Commission;
"law enforcement officer" means--
(a) in relation to Victoria Police--a
30 member of Victoria Police;
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(b) in relation to the Australian Crime
Commission--a member of staff of the
Australian Crime Commission--
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and includes a person who is seconded to a
5 law enforcement agency, including (but not
limited to) a member of the police force or
police service or a police officer (however
described) of another jurisdiction;
"member" of Victoria Police, means a member
10 of the force within the meaning of the Police
Regulation Act 1958;
"non-government issuing agency", in relation to
an authority, means a person, body or entity
(other than a government issuing agency)
15 named in the authority that issues evidence
of identity;
"officer" of an agency, includes a person
employed or engaged in the agency;
"participating jurisdiction" means a jurisdiction
20 in which a corresponding law is in force;
"supervisor" of an authorised civilian--means
the law enforcement officer who supervises
or is to supervise the acquisition or use of an
assumed identity by the authorised civilian;
25 "this jurisdiction" means Victoria;
"use" an assumed identity, includes representing
(whether expressly or impliedly, or by saying
or doing something) the identity to be real
when it is not;
30 "Victoria Police" means the force within the
meaning of the Police Regulation Act 1958.
__________________
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PART 2--AUTHORITY FOR ASSUMED IDENTITY
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4. Application for authority to acquire or use assumed
identity
(1) A law enforcement officer of a law enforcement
5 agency may apply to the chief officer of the
agency for an authority for the law enforcement
officer or any other person to do either or both of
the following--
(a) acquire an assumed identity;
10 (b) use an assumed identity.
(2) A separate application must be made in respect of
each assumed identity to be acquired or used.
(3) An application--
(a) must be in writing in the form approved by
15 the chief officer; and
(b) must contain--
(i) the name of the applicant; and
(ii) the name of the person to be authorised
to acquire or use an assumed identity (if
20 not the applicant); and
(iii) if the person referred to in sub-
paragraph (ii) is not a law enforcement
officer--the name and rank or position
of the person proposed to be appointed
25 as supervisor and an explanation of
why it is necessary for a person who is
not a law enforcement officer to acquire
or use the assumed identity; and
(iv) details of the proposed assumed
30 identity; and
(v) reasons for the need to acquire or use
an assumed identity; and
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(vi) details of the investigation or
intelligence-gathering exercise in which
the assumed identity will be used (to
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the extent known); and
5 (vii) details of any issuing agencies and the
types of evidence to be issued by them;
and
(viii) details of any application to be made
for an order under section 10 (making
10 entries in register of births, deaths or
marriages) in respect of the assumed
identity.
(4) The chief officer may require the applicant to
furnish any additional information concerning the
15 application that is necessary for the chief officer's
proper consideration of the application.
Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
section--see section 34.
5. Determination of applications
20 (1) After considering an application for an authority
to acquire or use an assumed identity, and any
additional information under section 4(4), the
chief officer--
(a) may grant an authority to acquire or use the
25 assumed identity, either unconditionally or
subject to conditions; or
(b) may refuse the application.
(2) An authority to acquire or use an assumed identity
may not be granted unless the chief officer is
30 satisfied on reasonable grounds--
(a) that the assumed identity is necessary for the
purposes of an investigation or intelligence
gathering in relation to criminal activity; and
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(b) that the risk of abuse of the assumed identity
by the authorised person is minimal; and
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
(c) if the application is for authorisation of an
assumed identity for a person who is not a
5 law enforcement officer--that it would be
impossible or impracticable in the
circumstances for a law enforcement officer
to acquire or use the assumed identity for the
purpose sought.
10 (3) If an authority is granted for an authorised
civilian, the chief officer must appoint a law
enforcement officer of the law enforcement
agency to supervise the acquisition or use of the
assumed identity by the authorised civilian.
15 (4) The law enforcement officer appointed as
supervisor must be of or above the rank of--
(a) sergeant, in the case of Victoria Police;
(b) senior investigator, in the case of the
Australian Crime Commission.
20 (5) An authority may also authorise any one or more
of the following--
(a) an application for an order for an entry in a
register of births, deaths or marriages under
section 10 or a corresponding law;
25 (b) a request under section 13 or 24;
(c) the use of an assumed identity in a
participating jurisdiction.
(6) A separate authority is required for each assumed
identity.
30 Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
section--see section 34.
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6. Form of authority
(1) An authority must be--
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
(a) in writing in the form approved by the chief
officer; and
5 (b) signed by the person granting it.
(2) An authority must state the following--
(a) the name of the person granting the
authority; and
(b) the date of the authority; and
10 (c) details of the assumed identity authorised;
and
(d) details of any evidence of the assumed
identity that may be acquired under the
authority; and
15 (e) the conditions (if any) to which the authority
is subject; and
(f) why the authority is granted; and
(g) if the authority relates to an authorised
officer--the name of the officer; and
20 (h) if the authority relates to an authorised
civilian--
(i) the name of the authorised civilian; and
(ii) the name of his or her supervisor under
the authority; and
25 (iii) the period for which the authority will
remain in force, being a period not
exceeding 3 months.
(3) The authority must also state the following--
(a) each issuing agency to which a request may
30 be made under section 13 or 24; and
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(b) whether it authorises an application for an
order for an entry in a register of births,
deaths or marriages under section 10 or a
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
corresponding law; and
5 (c) each participating jurisdiction in which an
assumed identity may be used.
Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
section--see section 34.
7. Period of authority
10 (1) An authority for an authorised officer remains in
force until cancelled under section 8.
(2) An authority for an authorised civilian remains in
force until the end of the period specified in the
authority in accordance with section 6(2)(h)(iii),
15 unless the authority is cancelled sooner under
section 8.
8. Variation or cancellation of authority
(1) The chief officer who grants an authority--
(a) may vary or cancel the authority at any time;
20 and
(b) must cancel the authority if the chief officer
is satisfied (on a review under section 9 or
otherwise) that use of the assumed identity is
no longer necessary.
25 (2) The chief officer must give written notice of the
variation or cancellation to--
(a) the authorised person to whom it relates; and
(b) if the authorised person is an authorised
civilian--the authorised person's supervisor.
30 (3) The notice must state why the authority is varied
or cancelled.
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(4) The variation or cancellation takes effect--
(a) on the day the written notice is given to the
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
authorised person; or
(b) if a later date of effect is stated in the
5 notice--on the day stated.
Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
section--see section 34.
9. Yearly review of authority
(1) The chief officer must periodically review each
10 authority granted by the chief officer or a delegate
of the chief officer under this Act.
(2) A review of an authority under this section is to be
conducted at least once every 12 months.
(3) The purpose of a review is to determine whether
15 use of the assumed identity under the authority is
still necessary.
(4) If the chief officer is satisfied on a review that use
of the assumed identity under the authority is no
longer necessary, he or she must cancel the
20 authority under section 8.
(5) If the chief officer is satisfied on a review that use
of the assumed identity under the authority is still
necessary, he or she must record his or her
opinion, and the reasons for it, in writing.
25 Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
section--see section 34.
10. Making entries in register of births, deaths and
marriages
(1) The Supreme Court may order the Registrar of
30 Births, Deaths and Marriages to make an entry in
the Register under the Births, Deaths and
Marriages Registration Act 1996 in relation to
the acquisition of an assumed identity under an
authority or corresponding authority.
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(2) The Court may make the order only--
(a) on application by--
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
(i) the chief officer of a law enforcement
agency; or
5 (ii) the chief officer of a law enforcement
agency under a corresponding law; and
(b) if satisfied the order is justified having
regard to the nature of the activities
undertaken or to be undertaken by the officer
10 or person under the authority or
corresponding authority.
(3) The application must be heard in closed court.
(4) The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
must give effect to an order--
15 (a) within the period stated in the order; or
(b) if no period is stated in the order--within
28 days after the day the order is made.
Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
section--see section 34.
20 11. Cancellation of authority affecting entry in register
of births, deaths and marriages
(1) This section applies if--
(a) the chief officer cancels an authority for an
assumed identity; and
25 (b) there is an entry in relation to that identity--
(i) in the Register under the Births,
Deaths and Marriages Registration
Act 1996 because of an order under
section 10; or
30 (ii) in a register of births, deaths or
marriages in a participating jurisdiction
because of an order under a
corresponding law of the jurisdiction.
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(2) If sub-section (1)(b)(i) applies, the chief officer
must apply for an order under section 12 within
28 days after the day the authority is cancelled.
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
(3) If sub-section (1)(b)(ii) applies, the chief officer
5 must apply for an order under the corresponding
law to cancel the entry within 28 days after the
day the authority is cancelled.
12. Cancelling entries in register of births, deaths and
marriages
10 (1) The Supreme Court may order the Registrar of
Births, Deaths and Marriages to cancel an entry
that has been made in the Register under the
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act
1996 under an order under section 10.
15 (2) The Court may make the order only on application
by the chief officer who applied for the order
under section 10.
(3) The application must be heard in closed court.
(4) The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
20 must give effect to the order within 28 days after
the day the order is made.
__________________
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PART 3--EVIDENCE OF ASSUMED IDENTITY
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
13. Request for evidence of assumed identity
(1) This section applies if an authority granted under
section 5 authorises a request under this section.
5 (2) The chief officer who grants the authority may
request the chief officer of an issuing agency
stated in the authority to--
(a) produce evidence of an assumed identity in
accordance with the authority; and
10 (b) give evidence of the assumed identity to the
authorised person named in the authority.
(3) The request must state a reasonable period for
compliance with the request.
(4) A request cannot be made under this section for an
15 entry in the Register under the Births, Deaths
and Marriages Registration Act 1996.
(5) In this section--
"evidence" means evidence similar to that
ordinarily produced or given by the issuing
20 agency.
Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
section--see section 34.
14. Government issuing agencies to comply with request
The chief officer of a government issuing agency
25 who receives a request under section 13 must
comply with the request within the reasonable
period stated in the request.
15. Non-government issuing agencies may comply with
request
30 The chief officer of a non-government issuing
agency who receives a request under section 13
may comply with the request.
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16. Cancellation of evidence of assumed identity
(1) The chief officer of an issuing agency who
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
produces evidence of an assumed identity under
this Part must cancel the evidence if directed in
5 writing to do so by the chief officer who requested
the evidence.
(2) In this section--
"cancel" includes delete or alter an entry in a
record of information.
10 17. Protection from criminal liability--officers of
issuing agencies
The chief officer, or an officer, of an issuing
agency (whether government or non-government)
who does something that, apart from this section,
15 would be an offence, is not criminally responsible
for the offence if the thing is done to comply with
a request under section 13 or a direction under
section 16.
18. Indemnity for issuing agencies and officers
20 (1) This section applies if the chief officer of a law
enforcement agency makes a request under
section 13 or gives a direction under section 16 to
the chief officer of an issuing agency, whether
government or non-government.
25 (2) The law enforcement agency must indemnify the
issuing agency, or an officer of the agency, for
any liability incurred by the agency or officer
(including reasonable costs) if--
(a) the liability is incurred because of something
30 done by the agency or officer to comply with
the request or direction in the course of duty;
and
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(b) any requirements prescribed under the
regulations have been met.
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__________________
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PART 4--EFFECT OF AUTHORITY
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
19. Assumed identity may be acquired and used
(1) An authorised officer may acquire or use (or both)
an assumed identity if the acquisition or use (or
5 both) are--
(a) in accordance with an authority; and
(b) in the course of duty.
(2) An authorised civilian may acquire or use (or
both) an assumed identity if the acquisition or use
10 (or both) are in accordance with--
(a) an authority; and
(b) any direction by the person's supervisor
under the authority.
20. Protection from criminal liability--authorised
15 persons
If an authorised person does something (whether
in this jurisdiction or elsewhere) that, apart from
this section, would be an offence, the officer or
person is not criminally responsible for the
20 offence if--
(a) the thing is done in the course of acquiring or
using an assumed identity in accordance with
an authority; and
(b) the thing is done--
25 (i) in the case of an authorised officer--in
the course of his or her duty; or
(ii) in the case of an authorised civilian--in
accordance with any direction by his or
her supervisor under the authority; and
30 (c) doing the thing would not be an offence if
the assumed identity were the person's real
identity.
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21. Indemnity for authorised persons
(1) This section applies if the chief officer of a law
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
enforcement agency grants an authority.
(2) The law enforcement agency must indemnify the
5 authorised person under the authority for any
liability incurred by the person (including
reasonable costs) because of something done by
the person (whether in this jurisdiction or
elsewhere) if--
10 (a) the thing is done in the course of acquiring or
using an assumed identity in accordance with
the authority; and
(b) the thing is done--
(i) in the case of an authorised officer--in
15 the course of his or her duty; or
(ii) in the case of an authorised civilian--in
accordance with any direction by his or
her supervisor under the authority; and
(c) any requirements prescribed under the
20 regulations have been met.
22. Particular qualifications
(1) Sections 20 and 21 do not apply to anything done
by an authorised person if--
(a) a particular qualification is needed to do the
25 thing; and
(b) the person does not have that qualification.
(2) Sub-section (1) applies whether or not the person
has acquired, as evidence of an assumed identity,
a document that indicates that he or she has that
30 qualification.
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23. Effect of being unaware of variation or cancellation
of authority
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
(1) If an authority has been varied in a way that limits
its scope, this Part continues to apply to the
5 authorised person to whom it relates as if it had
not been varied in that way, for as long as the
person--
(a) is unaware of the variation; and
(b) is not reckless about the existence of the
10 variation.
(2) If an authority has been cancelled, this Part
continues to apply to the authorised person to
whom it related as if it had not been cancelled, for
as long as the person--
15 (a) is unaware of the cancellation; and
(b) is not reckless about the existence of the
cancellation.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a person is
reckless about the existence of the variation or
20 cancellation of an authority if--
(a) the person is aware of a substantial risk that
the authority has been varied or cancelled;
and
(b) having regard to the circumstances known to
25 the person, it is unjustifiable to take the risk.
__________________
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s. 24
PART 5--MUTUAL RECOGNITION
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
24. Requests to a participating jurisdiction for evidence
of assumed identity
(1) This section applies if an authority granted under
5 section 5 authorises a request under this section.
(2) The chief officer who grants the authority may
request the chief officer of an issuing agency of a
participating jurisdiction stated in the authority
to--
10 (a) produce evidence of the assumed identity in
accordance with the authority; and
(b) give evidence of the assumed identity to the
authorised person named in the authority.
Note: The chief officer may delegate functions under this
15 section--see section 34.
25. Requests from a participating jurisdiction for
evidence of assumed identity
(1) This section applies if--
(a) an authority under a corresponding law
20 authorises a request for--
(i) the production of evidence of an
assumed identity in this jurisdiction;
and
(ii) the giving of evidence of the assumed
25 identity to the authorised person named
in the authority; and
(b) the request is made to the chief officer of an
issuing agency of this jurisdiction; and
(c) the request states a reasonable period for
30 compliance with the request.
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(2) The chief officer of a government issuing agency
who receives the request must comply with the
request within the reasonable period stated in the
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request.
5 (3) The chief officer of a non-government issuing
agency who receives the request may comply with
the request.
26. Directions from a participating jurisdiction to
cancel evidence of assumed identity
10 (1) The chief officer of an issuing agency who
produces evidence of an assumed identity because
of a request mentioned in section 25 must cancel
the evidence if directed in writing to do so by the
chief officer who made the request.
15 (2) In this section--
"cancel" includes delete or alter an entry in a
record of information.
27. Indemnity for issuing agencies and officers
(1) This section applies if the chief officer of a law
20 enforcement agency makes a request to the chief
officer of an issuing agency of a participating
jurisdiction under section 24.
(2) The law enforcement agency must indemnify the
issuing agency and any officer of the issuing
25 agency, for any liability incurred by the agency or
officer (including reasonable costs) if--
(a) the liability is incurred because of something
done (whether in this jurisdiction or
elsewhere) by the agency or officer to
30 comply with the request in the course of
duty; and
(b) any requirements prescribed under the
regulations have been met.
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28. Application of this Act to authorities under
corresponding laws
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
The following provisions apply to anything done
in this jurisdiction in relation to a corresponding
5 authority as if it were an authority granted under
section 5--
(a) section 17 (Protection from criminal
liability--officers of issuing agencies);
(b) section 19 (Assumed identity may be
10 acquired and used);
(c) section 20 (Protection from criminal
liability--authorised persons);
(d) section 22 (Particular skills or
qualifications);
15 (e) section 23 (Effect of being unaware of
variation or cancellation of authority);
(f) section 29 (Misuse of assumed identity);
(g) section 30 (Disclosing information about
assumed identity).
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PART 6--COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
Division 1--Misuse of Assumed Identity and Information
29. Misuse of assumed identity
(1) An authorised officer is guilty of an offence if--
5 (a) he or she intentionally, knowingly or
recklessly acquires evidence of, or uses, an
assumed identity covered by his or her
authority; and
(b) he or she knows that, or is reckless as to
10 whether, the acquisition or use is not--
(i) in accordance with his or her authority;
or
(ii) in the course of duty.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
15 (2) An authorised civilian is guilty of an offence if--
(a) he or she intentionally, knowingly or
recklessly acquires evidence of, or uses, an
assumed identity covered by his or her
authority; and
20 (b) he or she knows that, or is reckless as to
whether, the acquisition or use is not in
accordance with--
(i) his or her authority; or
(ii) the directions of his or her supervisor
25 under the authority.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
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30. Disclosing information about assumed identity
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if--
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
(a) the person intentionally, knowingly or
recklessly discloses any information; and
5 (b) the person knows that, or is reckless as to
whether, the information reveals, or is likely
to reveal, that an assumed identity acquired
or used by another person is not the other
person's real identity; and
10 (c) the person knows that, or is reckless as to
whether, the disclosure is not made--
(i) in connection with the administration or
execution of this Act or a
corresponding law; or
15 (ii) for the purposes of any legal
proceeding arising out of or otherwise
related to this Act or a corresponding
law or of any report of any such
proceedings; or
20 (iii) in accordance with any requirement
imposed by law.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence against this sub-
section if the person commits an offence against
25 sub-section (1) in circumstances in which the
person--
(a) intends to endanger the health or safety of
any person or prejudice the effective conduct
of an investigation or intelligence-gathering
30 in relation to criminal activity; or
(b) knows that, or is reckless as to whether, the
disclosure of the information--
(i) endangers or will endanger the health
or safety of any person; or
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(ii) prejudices or will prejudice the
effective conduct of an investigation or
intelligence-gathering in relation to
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
criminal activity.
5 Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(3) An offence against sub-section (2) is an indictable
offence.
(4) For the purposes of the Freedom of Information
Act 1982, information referred to in sub-
10 section (1) is information of a kind to which
section 38 of that Act applies.
Division 2--Reporting and Record-keeping
31. Reports about authorities for assumed identities etc.
(1) As soon as practicable after the end of each
15 financial year, the chief officer of a law
enforcement agency must submit a report to the
Minister that includes the following information
for the year--
(a) the number of authorities granted during the
20 year; and
(b) a general description of the activities
undertaken by authorised persons when
using assumed identities under this Act
during the year; and
25 (c) the number of applications for authorities
that were refused during the year; and
(d) a statement whether or not any fraud or other
unlawful activity was identified by an audit
under section 33 during the year; and
30 (e) any other information relating to authorities
and assumed identities and the
administration of this Act that the Minister
considers appropriate.
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(2) The chief officer must advise the Minister of any
information in the report that, in the chief officer's
opinion, should be excluded from the report
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
before the report is laid before Parliament because
5 the information, if made public, could reasonably
be expected to--
(a) endanger a person's safety; or
(b) prejudice an investigation or prosecution; or
(c) compromise any law enforcement agency's
10 operational activities or methodologies.
(3) The Minister must--
(a) exclude information from the report if
satisfied on the advice of the chief officer of
any of the grounds set out in sub-section (2);
15 and
(b) cause a copy of the report to be laid before
each House of Parliament within 15 sitting
days after the day on which the Minister
receives the report.
20 32. Record keeping
(1) The chief officer of a law enforcement agency
must cause appropriate records to be kept about
the operation of this Act in respect of the agency.
(2) The records must include the following, in respect
25 of authorities granted, varied or cancelled under
this Act in respect of the agency--
(a) the date on which an authority was granted,
varied or cancelled and the name of the
person who granted, varied or revoked it;
30 and
(b) the name of the authorised person under the
authority, together with details of the
assumed identity to which the authority
applies; and
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(c) details of any request made to an issuing
agency under section 13 (Request for
evidence of assumed identity) in respect of
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
the authority; and
5 (d) the general nature of the duties undertaken
by the authorised person under the assumed
identity; and
(e) general details of relevant financial
transactions entered into using the assumed
10 identity; and
(f) details of reviews of the authority under
section 9.
33. Audit of records
(1) The chief officer of a law enforcement agency
15 must arrange for the records kept under section 32
for each authority in respect of the agency to be
audited--
(a) at least once every 6 months while the
authority is in force; and
20 (b) at least once in the 6 months after the
cancellation or expiry of the authority.
(2) The audit is to be conducted by a person
appointed by the chief officer.
(3) The person appointed to conduct the audit--
25 (a) may but need not be an officer of the law
enforcement agency;
(b) must not be a person--
(i) who granted, varied or cancelled any of
the authorities to which the records
30 under section 32 relate; or
(ii) who is or was an authorised person
under any of the authorities to which
those records relate.
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(4) The results of an audit are to be reported to the
chief officer.
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
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s. 34
PART 7--GENERAL
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
34. Delegation of chief officer's functions
(1) Except as provided by this section (and despite
any other Act or law to the contrary) the functions
5 of a chief officer under this Act may not be
delegated to any other person.
(2) A chief officer may delegate to a senior officer of
the law enforcement agency any of the chief
officer's functions under this Act relating to the
10 granting, variation and cancellation of authorities
(including conducting reviews under section 9,
making applications under section 10 or 12, or
making requests under section 13 or 24).
(3) No more than 4 delegations may be in force under
15 this section at any one time in respect of any one
law enforcement agency.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, this section prevails
over section 6A of the Police Regulation Act
1958.
20 (5) In this section--
"senior officer" means--
(a) in relation to Victoria Police--a
member of Victoria Police of or above
the rank of superintendent;
25 (b) in relation to the Australian Crime
Commission--
(i) the Director National Operations;
or
(ii) a Director; or
30 (iii) the General Manager National
Operations; or
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(iv) a member of staff of the
Australian Crime Commission
who is an SES employee or acting
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
SES employee (within the
5 meaning of the Australian Crime
Commission Act 2002 of the
Commonwealth) and who holds a
position that is prescribed by the
regulations for the purposes of this
10 definition.
35. Regulation-making power
(1) The Governor in Council may make regulations
for or with respect to prescribing any matter or
thing required or permitted by this Act to be
15 prescribed or necessary to be prescribed to give
effect to this Act.
(2) The regulations--
(a) may be of general or limited application;
(b) may differ according to differences in time,
20 place or circumstances.
36. Transitional provisions
(1) An authority to use an assumed identity granted in
accordance with the policies and procedures of
Victoria Police to a member of Victoria Police
25 that was in force immediately before the
commencement day is taken, for the period
referred to in sub-section (2), to be an authority
granted under this Act to use the assumed identity.
(2) The period is from the start of the commencement
30 day until the earlier of the following--
(a) the day on which cancellation of the
authority under section 8 takes effect; or
(b) 6 months after the commencement day.
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(3) Nothing in sub-section (1) prevents the law
enforcement officer from applying for and being
granted an authority under this Act in relation to
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
the assumed identity.
5 (4) An authority may be granted under this Act in
relation to criminal activity occurring before, on
or after the commencement day.
(5) In this section--
"commencement day" means the day on which
10 this section comes into operation.
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Endnotes
ENDNOTES
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
By Authority. Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
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INDEX
Subject Section
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
Act
commencement 2
purpose 1
transitional provisions 36
Agencies
See Issuing agencies; Law enforcement agencies
Assumed identities
definitions of acquire, use 3
disclosure of information 30
entries in register of births, deaths and marriages 4 6, 10-12
misuse of 29
use by authorised officers, authorised civilians 19
Assumed identities Authorities
applications for 4
audit of records 33
authorities under corresponding laws 28
cancellation 8, 9, 11, 23
definition 3
form 6
grant and grounds for 5
matters authorised by 5
period of 6, 7
records regarding 32, 33
reports regarding 31
transitional provisions 36
variations 8, 23
yearly reviews 9
Assumed identities Evidence
cancellation 16, 26
definition 3, 13
details in authorities 46
protection of issuing agencies, officers 1718, 27
requests for 1315, 24, 25
Australian Crime Commission
See Law enforcement agencies;
Law enforcement officers
Authorised civilians
acquisition, use of assumed identity 19
definition 3
indemnity 21, 22
misuse of assumed identity by 29
period of authority for 6, 7
protection from criminal liability 20, 22
protection if unaware of variation, cancellation of
authority 23
supervision by law enforcement officers 4, 5, 6
Authorised officers
acquisition, use of assumed identity 19
definition 3
indemnity 21, 22
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Subject Section
misuse of assumed identity by 29
period of authority for 7
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
protection from criminal liability 20, 22
protection if unaware of variation, cancellation of
authority 23
Authorised persons
See Authorised civilians; Authorised officers
Authorities See Assumed identities Authorities
Chief officers
See Issuing agencies; Law enforcement agencies
Criminal liability
protection from 17, 20, 22
3, 28
Corresponding authorities
3, 28
Corresponding laws
3, 13, 16, 26, 34,
Definitions
36
Evidence See Assumed identities Evidence
Government issuing agencies See Issuing agencies
18, 2122, 27
Indemnities
Issuing agencies
chief officer (def.) 3
chief officer's duties regarding
cancellation of evidence 16, 26
requests for evidence 1315, 24, 25
definition 3
details in authorities 46
government issuing agencies (def.) 3
indemnity for officers and issuing agencies 18, 27
non-government issuing agencies (def.) 3
protection of officers from criminal liability 17
Law enforcement agencies
chief officer (def.) 3
chief officer's powers and duties regarding
appointment of supervisors 5
audits of records 33
authorities 4, 5, 8, 9, 11
entries in register of births, deaths, marriages 1011
evidence 13, 16, 24
records 32, 33
reports 31
definition 3
delegation of chief officer's functions 34
indemnities given by 18, 2122, 27
senior officers 34
Law enforcement officers
applications for authorities 4
as supervisors of authorised civilians 4, 5
definition 3
See also Authorised officers
31
Minister
Non-government issuing agencies
See Issuing agencies
29, 30
Offences
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Subject Section
Participating jurisdictions
authorisation of use of assumed identities in 5, 6
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents
definition 3
requests for evidence to and from 2427
Register of births, deaths and marriages
details of entries in authorities 46
entries regarding assumed identities 1012
35
Regulations
10, 12
Supreme Court
36
Transitional provisions
Victoria Police
See Law enforcement agencies;
Law enforcement officers
35
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