Eligibility requirements for police custody officers (PCOs)

Victoria Police as an employer has no tolerance for illicit or illegal drug use by an employee or applicant either in their work or private life.

Victoria Police conducts extensive background checks on police custody officer applicants during the selection process.

Code of conduct and prior behaviour

All Victoria Police employees follow a code of conduct regardless of rank, position or title. Victoria Police conducts extensive background checks on applicants during the selection process.

All applicants need to align with the code of conduct expected of our employees. That means the application process involves a thorough assessment to identify any:

• prior misconduct
• corruption
• or any form of improper conduct.

The ongoing expectation is that you understand and avoid misconduct, and immediately report it should you become aware of it in others.

This helps keep Victoria Police an ethical organisation for our employees and the community we serve.

Prior offences and Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF)

Your previous history will be continually checked and assessed. Failure to declare information may result in automatic cancellation of your application.

Check the prior history guidelines

If you have any of the following, we recommend that you submit a Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF) prior to submitting an application:

• prior convictions
• cautions
• diversions
• good behaviour bonds
• or excessive driving offences.

This will allow you to find out whether your prior history is likely to disqualify you from being considered for the role.

All offences, including those that were committed as a juvenile, must be disclosed in your application.

Instructions for submitting your Voluntary Disclosure Form (VDF)

Submit your VDF using a desktop computer or laptop.

To successfully submit this document, please click on the link below. You can then save this form to your computer before completing your responses.

Complete the required fields in the downloaded form, attach it and send it in for review to pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au.

If you have any contact with police during the selection process, you must inform the Recruiting Services Branch immediately on pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au.

Individuals 18 years of age and over are eligible to apply.

There are no education requirements.

The Victoria Police Act 2013 stipulates that you must be an Australian Citizen or hold Australian permanent residency to join Victoria Police.

New Zealand Citizens are required to have a Special Category Visa and be residing in Australia to submit an application. 

On application to Victoria Police, you are obliged to provide proof of citizenship, permanent residency or special category visa status.

Police custody officer applicants must have a valid driver’s licence to apply that is issued in a state or territory within Australia.

Upon induction into the Academy, a driver’s licence issued by the State of Victoria will be required unless the employee is residing in NSW.

A manual or automatic driver's licence is permitted. Probationary licences are accepted. 

Applicants will need to provide proof of a first aid certificate (HLTAID009, HLTAID010, HLTAID011) following on from receiving their provisional offer.

The first aid certificate must still be valid for at least 12 months at this point in time.

All costs associated with obtaining First Aid Certification will be incurred by the applicant.

During the selection process you will be asked to declare associations. An inappropriate association is an association with a person or organisation suspected of, or known to be engaged in, or have a history of, unlawful activity.

These associations will reflect on community perceptions of your integrity and ability to use authority with integrity. They may also put you in a position where associates attempt to ask you to forgo your duty or otherwise compromise your integrity as an employee of Victoria Police.

It is important that Victoria Police are aware of any association or potential conflict of interest which may compromise you or reflect adversely on the organisation. These could be family, friends, members of recreational clubs or other people you associate with.

During the application you will be required to declare these. In some cases a management plan may be put in place, in others the association should be terminated.

Failure to disclose any information in the applicant process may result in your application not proceeding or subject you to termination of employment.