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VICTORIA POLICE ACT 2013 (NO. 81 OF 2013)

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

PART 2--VICTORIA POLICE

Division 1--Constitution, role and functions

Division 2--Relationship with government

  • 10 Ministerial directions  
  • 11 Minister's power to obtain information and reports  
  • 12 Annual report of Chief Commissioner  

PART 3--VICTORIA POLICE PERSONNEL

Division 1--Ranks, commissions and numbers

Division 2--Chief Commissioner

Division 3--Deputy Commissioners

Division 4--Assistant Commissioners

Division 5--Other police officers

  • 27 Appointment of police officers  
  • 28 Probation for appointment  
  • 29 Appointment of officers from other jurisdictions  
  • 30 Appointment of former police officers  
  • 31 Promotion of police officers  
  • 32 Probation for promotion  
  • 33 Transfer of police officers  
  • 34 Transfer on application or request  
  • 35 Directed transfer of police officers  

Division 6--Police recruits

  • 36 Employment of police recruits  

Division 7--Protective services officers

Division 8--Police reservists

  • 45 Status of police reservists  
  • 46 Duty to act under direction and control  
  • 47 Training  
  • 48 Resignation  
  • 49 Suspension and termination of appointment  

PART 4--POLICE DUTIES, POWERS, ENTITLEMENTS, PROTECTION AND LIABILITY

Division 1--Oath of office

  • 50 Oath of office  

Division 2--General duties and powers

  • 51 Duties and powers of police officers  
  • 52 Duties and powers of protective services officers  
  • 53 Proof of office  
  • 54 Temporary cessation of powers during leave or secondment  
  • 55 Permanent cessation of powers  

Division 3--Specific duties and powers

  • 56 Execution of process and warrants  
  • 57 Disposal of unclaimed property  
  • 58 Disputed property in possession of police  
  • 59 Assistance to coroners  

Division 4--Chief Commissioner's instructions and determinations

Division 5--General employment matters

  • 63 Training courses  
  • 64 Long service leave  
  • 65 Resignation and retirement  
  • 66 Abandonment of appointment  
  • 67 Ill-health retirement  

Division 6--Incapacity for duty

  • 68 Definitions  
  • 69 Notice of incapacity  
  • 70 Determination of incapacity  

Division 7--Protections

  • 71 Protection of people executing warrants  

Division 8--Liability for tortious conduct by police and protective services officers

  • 72 What is a police tort?  
  • 73 What is a police tort claim?  
  • 74 Liability of the State for police torts  
  • 75 How can police tort claims be made?  
  • 76 Counterclaims  
  • 77 Time for serving State's defence  
  • 78 Costs in police tort claims  
  • 79 Payments by the State if police or protective services officer liable  
  • 80 Division does not affect certain claims and proceedings  
  • 81 Effect of Division on other laws  

PART 5--DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING

Division 1--Introduction

  • 82 Definitions  
  • 83 Designated work units and designated work functions  
  • 84 Meaning of rostered on and rostered off  

Division 2--Critical incident testing

  • 85 Persons subject to critical incident testing  
  • 86 Critical incident testing  
  • 87 Samples taken where person is unconscious etc.  

Division 3--Targeted Testing

Division 4--Designated work unit testing and designated work function testing

  • 91 Persons subject to designated work unit testing or designated work function testing  
  • 92 Designated work unit testing  
  • 93 Designated work function testing  

Division 5--Random testing

  • 94 Persons subject to random testing  
  • 95 Random testing  

Division 6--Use of test results

  • 96 Chief Commissioner may have regard to evidence in certain circumstances  
  • 97 Admissibility of test results in certain proceedings  
  • 98 Confidentiality of test results  

Division 7--General

  • 99 Requirement to comply with testing direction  
  • 100 Offence to tamper with a sample  
  • 101 Limitation of liability for registered medical practitioners etc.  
  • 102 Operation of the Road Safety Act 1986  

PART 6--POLICE REGISTRATION

Division 1--Registration

  • 103 Qualifications for registration  
  • 104 Application for registration  
  • 105 Registration  
  • 106 Commencement and duration of registration  

Division 2--Renewal of registration

  • 107 Board must notify person when registration about to expire  
  • 108 Application for renewal of registration  
  • 109 Renewal of registration  

Division 3--Suspension and cancellation of registration

  • 110 Mandatory suspension of registration  
  • 111 Discretionary suspension of registration  
  • 112 Effect of suspension  
  • 113 Mandatory cancellation of registration  
  • 114 Notice of intention to cancel  
  • 115 Cancellation following notice  
  • 116 Return of certificate on cancellation  

Division 4--Hearings

  • 117 Hearings  
  • 118 Procedure at hearings  
  • 119 Application for registration or renewal of registration hearings—Private unless otherwise ordered  
  • 120 Cancellation of registration hearings—Public unless otherwise ordered  

Division 5--Police Profession Register

Division 6--General

  • 123 Natural justice  
  • 124 Service of notices under this Part  

PART 7--DISCIPLINE

Division 1--Breaches of discipline

  • 125 Breaches of discipline  
  • 126 Preliminary investigation  
  • 127 Charging  
  • 128 Form of charge  
  • 129 Inquiry into a charge  
  • 130 Authorisation of persons to charge or inquire into and determine charges  
  • 131 Procedure on an inquiry  
  • 132 Determination of the inquiry  
  • 133 Enforcement of the determination  
  • 134 Adjournment of charge  

Division 2--Offences punishable by imprisonment

  • 135 Officer believed to have committed an offence punishable by imprisonment  
  • 136 Charge found proven against officer  
  • 137 Action not to be taken against an officer twice  

Division 3--Effect of suspension, dismissal or reduction of rank

  • 138 Suspension  
  • 139 Forfeiture of salary  
  • 140 No compensation for dismissal or reduction in rank  

PART 8--APPEALS AND REVIEWS

Division 1--Appeals

  • 141 Promotion and transfer appeals—police officers  
  • 142 Promotion and transfer appeals—protective services officers  
  • 143 Constitution of PRS Board for appeal  
  • 144 Appeal to be re-hearing  
  • 145 Procedure on appeal  

Division 2--Reviews

  • 146 What decisions are reviewable?  
  • 147 Form and time limits for applying for review  
  • 148 Constitution of PRS Board for review  
  • 149 Special procedure for review of directed transfers  
  • 150 Chief Commissioner to lodge file in review of incapacity decisions  
  • 151 PRS Board must have regard to public interest and interests of applicant  
  • 152 Powers of PRS Board on review of termination or dismissal decisions  
  • 153 Powers of PRS Board on review of certain demotion and transfer decisions  
  • 154 Powers of PRS Board on review of other decisions  

Division 3--General provisions for appeals and reviews

  • 155 Natural justice  
  • 156 General procedure  
  • 157 Hearings to be public unless otherwise ordered  
  • 158 Appearance and representation  
  • 159 Evidence  
  • 160 Witness summons  
  • 161 Witness summons offences  
  • 162 Contempt of PRS Board  
  • 163 Protection of participants  
  • 164 Extension of time  
  • 165 Chief Commissioner to give effect to PRS Board orders and decisions  

PART 9--COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS

Division 1--Preliminary

  • 166 Definitions  

Division 2--Complaints and investigations

Division 3--General

  • 173 Prohibition of victimisation  
  • 174 Other offences  

PART 10--INVESTIGATION OF PROTECTED DISCLOSURE COMPLAINTS

Division 1--Investigations

  • 175 Duty to investigate  
  • 176 Power to require answers etc. of specified members of police personnel in certain investigations  
  • 177 Person who made disclosure may request information about investigation  

Division 2--Action on investigation

Division 3--Disclosure of information

Division 4--Investigation procedures

Division 5--Other matters

PART 11--SPECIAL CONSTABLES

Division 1--Appointment of special constables generally

Division 2--Incidents requiring urgent cross-border assistance

  • 196 Declaration of incident  
  • 197 Period of declaration  
  • 198 Appointment of special constables during declared incident  
  • 199 Oath or affirmation  
  • 200 Termination of appointment  

PART 12--POLICE REGISTRATION AND SERVICES BOARD

Division 1--Establishment and functions

Division 2--Membership

Division 3--General provisions for the PRS Board

  • 214 Meetings of the PRS Board  
  • 215 Effect of vacancy or defect  
  • 216 Immunity  
  • 217 Staffing  
  • 218 Confidentiality  
  • 219 Delegation  

Division 4--Checks and investigations by the PRS Board

  • 220 Checks and investigations for registration and provision of advice  
  • 221 Criminal record and other checks  
  • 222 Investigations and further information  
  • 223 Witness summons  
  • 224 Service of notices and summonses under this Division  

PART 13--CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVILEGE

Division 1--Confidentiality of police information

  • 225 Definitions  
  • 226 Victoria Police personnel duty not to access, use or disclose police information  
  • 227 Unauthorised access to, use of or disclosure of police information by members or former members of Victoria Police personnel—summary offence  
  • 228 Unauthorised access to, use of or disclosure of police information by members or former members of Victoria Police personnel—indictable offence  
  • 229 Unauthorised access to, use of or disclosure of police information by service providers  
  • 230 Access to, use of or disclosure of information on a computerised database  
  • 231 Other authorised access to, use of or disclosure of police information  
  • 232 Offence to disclose information in relation to drug and alcohol testing  

Division 2--Other confidentiality and privilege provisions

  • 233 Deliberations of Ministers and Parliamentary committees not to be disclosed  
  • 234 Certain crime reports privileged  

Division 3--Agency photographs

  • 235 Definitions  
  • 236 Authorisation of media organisations  
  • 237 Application for authorisation under section 236  
  • 238 Chief Commissioner may authorise the giving of agency photographs to media organisations  
  • 239 Application for giving of agency photograph  
  • 240 Considerations to be taken into account in authorising the giving of agency photographs  
  • 241 Notification of authorisation under section 238  
  • 242 Offences as to authorisation and use of agency photographs  
  • 243 Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence  
  • 244 Protection in respect of offences  
  • 245 Procedure under section 234 not affected  

Division 4--Disclosure of vehicle accident information

  • 246 Definitions  
  • 247 Declaration of non-Victorian statutory insurance scheme laws and persons as statutory scheme insurers  
  • 248 Certain persons may request disclosure of vehicle accident information  
  • 249 Form and content of application for vehicle accident information  
  • 250 Disclosure of vehicle accident information  
  • 251 Disclosure or use of vehicle accident information for a purpose other than an authorised purpose prohibited  

PART 14--COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

Division 1--General offences in relation to Victoria Police

Division 2--Ancillary provisions for offences

  • 259 Definitions  
  • 260 Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—accessorial liability  
  • 261 Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—failure to exercise due diligence  
  • 262 Conduct by officers, employees or agents  

Division 3--Search and seizure powers

  • 263 Definitions  
  • 264 Entry and search with consent  
  • 265 Notice before entry and search  
  • 266 Acknowledgement of consent to entry and search  
  • 267 Search warrants  
  • 268 Form and content of search warrant  
  • 269 Announcement before entry  
  • 270 Details of warrant to be given to occupier  
  • 271 Seizure of things not mentioned in the warrant  
  • 272 Retention and return of seized things  
  • 273 Magistrates' Court may extend 6 month period  
  • 274 Things seized may be used in connection with investigations into conduct  

PART 15--GENERAL

  • 275 Judicial notice  
  • 276 Voluntary DNA samples for elimination purposes  
  • 277 Regulations  

PART 16--REPEALS, AMENDMENTS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Division 1--Police Regulation Act 1958

  • 278 Change of short title  
  • 279 Definitions  
  • 280 Repeals in Part I (Appointments and Retirements)  
  • 281 Repeal of Parts II, IV, IVAA, IVA, IVB, V, VAA, VA and VC  
  • 282 Repeals and amendments in Part VI (Retired Police Reserve)  
  • 283 Repeal of Parts VIA, VIB and VIC  
  • 284 Repeals in Part VII  
  • 285 Repeal of First Schedule and Second Schedule  
  • 286 Repeal of Division  

Division 2--Transitional provisions

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