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National police check disputes

Understand what criminal history information can be used and how to dispute it.

The police check process may disclose certain information. If you believe the information disclosed is incorrect you have an opportunity to dispute it.

Understand what criminal history information can be released and what can't.

Spent Convictions Act 2021

The Spent Convictions Act 2021External Link commenced on 1 December 2021 and replaces the Victoria Police Information Release Policy.

The Act changes the way a person’s criminal history information can be used and disclosed, including what can and cannot be released on a national police check.

It is important to note that this is not an expungement scheme. Spent convictions will continue to be available for law enforcement, administration of justice and/or for purposes required by law.

Changes include (unless an exemption applies):

  • Eligible convictions can be spent automatically, immediately or by application to court.
  • If a conviction is spent, it cannot be disclosed or taken into consideration for any purpose except for law enforcement and/or administration of justice and for a regulatory purpose such as a working with children screening.
  • In certain circumstances a conviction will be spent immediately, including when a person was under the age of 15 when they committed the offence.
  • Criminal charges where a court has not yet made a decision (pending charges), information relating to an ongoing investigation by police, and/or findings of not guilty by reason of mental impairment will in most circumstances not be disclosed.
  • Full criminal histories continue to be disclosed to police, courts and other law enforcement agencies for the administration of justice and all current data sharing agreements remain in place.

Most of the legislative changes only apply to the disclosure of convictions relating to general employment.

Further information is available on the Department of Justice and Community SafetyExternal Link website including fact sheets for the community and employers.

Disputing your criminal history information

You can dispute some or all of your criminal history information if it’s incorrect.

Dispute checks submitted online via Service Victoria

If you applied for a national police check online via Service Victoria, please raise your dispute with Service VictoriaExternal Link .

Dispute checks submitted via post

If you submitted an application to Victoria Police via post you can submit your dispute via email to policecheckvic@police.vic.gov.au.

You must provide as much additional information as possible and attach evidentiary documents (if any) to support your dispute.

You may also need to provide comparison fingerprints, however this will only be requested where necessary.

No fee will be charged for taking comparison fingerprints.

You will be informed of the outcome by mail.

Dispute checks by interstate police

If you submitted an application via an interstate police jurisdiction you need to lodge your dispute with them.

Please contact the relevant police jurisdiction directly.

Dispute checks by ACIC accredited bodies

If your check was conducted by an Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)External Link accredited body, you must raise your dispute with them.

The accredited body will arrange for you to complete an NPCS Dispute form which they will lodge on your behalf.

Learn more about accredited bodiesExternal Link .

More about police checks and fingerprinting

Read more about the national police checks and fingerprinting processes.

Contact us

Get in touch about police checks or fingerprinting through our online enquiry form.

Reviewed 11 October 2022

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