There are certain circumstances in which an individual working in the security industry may be required to purchase, possess or carry items such as a baton, handcuffs or body armour.
Conditions for working with these weapons are specific to the individual items and those who are authorised to do so must meet strict conditions.
Conditions for using batons (including extendable batons)
A person must be able to demonstrate all of the following four requirements in order to work with batons.
Requirement 1: licence/permit type
A person must hold one of the following:
- an individual operator licence
- a business licence
- a temporary visitor permit
Requirement 2: activity
A person's licence or permit must authorise them to perform one of the following:
- crowd control
- security guard activities
- bodyguard activities
Requirement 3: training
The individual licence or permit holder must also have completed the unit of competency 'Control Persons Using Baton' (CPPSEC3014A).
Requirement 4: permission from your employer
- The licence or permit holder must receive written approval from their employer before they can purchase, posses, carry, or use a baton as part of their job. Employees are responsible for providing their employers with evidence that they have completed the relevant training.
- Employers or business licence holders are responsible for determining whether it is appropriate for their staff to use a baton at work.
- Employers are also responsible for checking that their employees have completed the relevant training at an approved security training organisation.
- The Licensing and Regulation Division does not require notification of an individual licence holder's competency or evidence of permission to use batons when at work, however, employers must be able to produce a copy of an employee's competency certificate and permission document on request.
Conditions for using body armour
Security licence holders with the sub-activities of security guard or bodyguard are covered under a Governor in Council Exemption to use body armour for lawful employment.
While the Licensing and Regulation Division does not need to be notified of your use of body armour when at work, a member of Victoria Police may request persons wearing body armour to demonstrate that the below requirements have been met.
A person must be able to demonstrate both of the following two requirements in order to work with body armour.
Requirement 1: licence/permit type
A person must hold one of the following:
- an individual operator licence
- a business licence
- a temporary visitor permit.
Requirement 2: activity
A person's licence or permit must authorise them to perform one of the following:
- security guard activities
- bodyguard activities.
Conditions for using handcuffs
A person must be able to demonstrate both of the following two requirements in order to lawfully use handcuffs when working in the private security industry.
Requirement 1: training
The individual licence or permit holder must have completed the unit of competency 'Restrain Persons Using Handcuffs' (CPPSEC3015A).
Requirement 2: permission from your employer
- The licence or permit holder must receive written approval from their employer before they can use handcuffs as part of their job. Employees are responsible for providing their employer with evidence that they have completed the relevant training.
- Employers or business licence holders are responsible for determining whether it is appropriate for their staff to use handcuffs at work.
- Employers are also responsible for checking that their employees have completed the relevant training at an approved security training organisation.
- The Licensing and Regulation Division does not require notification of an individual licence holder's competency or evidence of permission to use handcuffs when at work, however, employers must be able to produce a copy of an employee's competency certificate and permission document on request.