People performing duties as an armed guard or cash-in-transit firearm must hold a current firearms licence in addition to their private security licence.
Approved types of handguns and ammunition for security work
The following types of handguns are suitable for work in the private security industry:
- semi-automatic pistols 9mm and .40 calibres
- revolvers .38 calibre and .357 magnum calibres
There are restrictions about the type of ammunition permitted for use in handguns used in the private security industry. Only manufacturer recommended ammunition should be used in these handguns.
All other types of ammunition are not permitted, unless they are solely used for training purposes.
Victoria Police determines that there are no exceptional or legitimate circumstances for the carriage of handguns or ammunition outside of these specifications for use in the private security industry.
Handgun ownership and storage requirements
Handguns used in the private security industry must be registered to a cash-in-transit or armed guard security business. Employees may not register a handgun against their individual firearm licence unless they hold the licence for an additional reason, such as sport/target shooting. In those cases those firearm may not, under any circumstances be used for employment purposes.
Employers are responsible for storage and the day-to-day management of firearms possessed under the licence.
Employees may not keep a firearm at home for work purposes unless required to do so by the employer and specific authorisation has been granted by the Licensing and Regulation Division. Contact us for more information about how to apply for a keep at home endorsement.
Licence conditions
Each financial year (July 1 to June 30) the holder of a firearm licence issued for security guard or prison guard purposes must re-qualify at an approved industry specific firearms training course.
All licence holders have a common qualification expiry date of 30 June each year. The current approved security industry specific firearms training unit of competency is CPPSEC3114 - Control Security Risk Situations Using Firearms.
Licence holders should be aware that:
- once the licence holder has successfully completed the re-qualification course a copy of the certificate must be submitted to Licensing and Regulation Division
- it is the responsibility of each licence holder to ensure that a certificate has been submitted
- licence holders should not rely on, or assume that their employer or training provider will take responsibility for providing this documentation within the required time frames.
Failure to complete re-qualification requirement by the end of each financial year (30 June) means that:
- a firearm licence could be suspended
- even if a valid private security licence is held the suspended licence holder cannot handle those firearms in the course of their duties
In circumstances where a licence holder may not be able to complete re-qualification by June 30, they must notify Licensing and Regulation Division in writing before this date.
When a licence holder completes handgun re-qualification training after the expiry date of 30 June, their re-qualification document will be backdated for that financial year.
This however, does not cover the licence holder’s re-qualification training for the new financial year. It is the sole responsibility of the licence holder to ensure re-qualification is undertaken annually within the financial year.
Failure to comply with the re-qualification requirement by the end of each financial year (30 June) may result in the immediate suspension of the firearms licence under Section 47 of the Firearms Act 1996.
Application requirements
All firearm applications are subject to a mandatory waiting period of 28 days.
Anyone wishing to apply for general category handgun licence for the purpose of working as a security guard must:
- hold a private security licence with the activity of armed guard and/or cash-in-transit
- a letter of employment from an approved cash-in-transit and/or armed guard employer
- evidence that training competency relating to firearm-handling was attained within 12 months of your application for a handgun licence
- have had fingerprints taken (in addition to a set of fingerprints required for your private security licence)
Applicants for a private security licence for the purpose of armed guard and/or cash-in-transit are strongly advised to submit their applications for a private security licence and firearm licence at the same time if possible.
Applicants should also state the two reasons (private security and firearms licensing) on their fingerprint application form.
Taking these actions will minimise waiting times and avoid the need to provide evidence twice and pay multiple fees for the taking of fingerprints.
Updated