Victoria Police is committed to maintaining your privacy and safety.

When a family violence incident or sexual assault is reported against an employee of Victoria Police, the investigator is required to record this information.

The information collected is stored on a secure police database. Whilst this database is accessible to police officers, it is auditable and accountable. Unauthorised access will result in the police officer being prosecuted criminally.

Victoria Police will investigate and prosecute any Victoria Police employee who accesses information or discloses information unlawfully. This includes the disclosure of any information that breaches your privacy or confidentiality.

Action will also be undertaken where Victoria Police employees do anything to endanger you in support of the perpetrator. If you believe your information has been wrongfully accessed or leaked, you can make a report to your investigator or the Police Conduct Unit, Professional Standards Command.

The Family Violence Information Sharing and Child Information Sharing Schemes

The Family Violence Information Sharing and Child Information Sharing Schemes allow your information to be shared to manage a range of wellbeing and safety needs. This includes managing risks for children, family members and individuals.

For information sharing guidelines, visit the Victorian Government website.

Your investigator will inform you when a referral for support or wellbeing assistance is being made, so you are aware that a support service will be in contact to see how they can help.

SOFVU Confidential Investigations

In some circumstances, SOFVU may need to delay recording information about your circumstances on their usual police databases. This only occurs to improve the safety of those involved or to protect information or investigation planning.

This means we will wait until we have investigated further before we record the matter formally, however a SOFVU investigator will still be taking action and we will only undertake confidential investigations in this way with your consent.

As part of the services provided by SOFVU for confidential investigations, we refer you and any children to our SOFVU Witness Support Unit to ensure you have any support and well-being needs met.

If you feel your confidentiality has been breached, a complaint can be made to the Police Conduct Unit or to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

Victoria Police will not tolerate breaches of privacy and will thoroughly investigate and prosecute any identified breach of privacy and confidentiality.

If you are a victim survivor of family violence, sexual offence or sexual harassment and the perpetrator is an employee of Victoria Police, to seek help and support you have the following options:

By phone

• in the event of an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you are in danger and need help immediately always use this option
• report to Crime Stoppers(opens in a new window)
• report to Professional Standards Command’s Police Conduct Unit

In person at multidisciplinary centres (MDCs)

• visit our Reporting sexual offences and child abuse page
• via our Compliments and complaints page

Directly to a specialist unit

• Professional Standards Command’s Sexual Offences and Family Violence Unit (SOFVU)

When you call Triple Zero (000) for urgent police attendance, you will speak to an emergency dispatcher who will ask you questions about your situation and arrange for police to attend your location.

• usually, police in uniform will be the first to attend and speak with you. They will speak to you in private, away from anyone else at the location (including away from children where safe to do so)
• depending on the circumstances they may also need to speak to any children or others present at the time.
• if you need an interpreter or have any accessibility requirements police will arrange this.
• police will turn on their body-worn cameras and record all the conversations. It is important to tell the police as much information as possible about what has occurred.
• the incident will be reported to Professional Standards Command, who will determine whether the report of family violence or sexual offence will be allocated to the SOFVU or to a qualified regional investigator.
• a qualified investigator will tell you about what will happen next as part of the investigation process and what your options are. They will also let you know if they are making referrals after completing a Family Violence Report.
• it is normal practice for a senior police officer (sergeant or higher ranking) to attend incidents or call outs that involve Victoria Police employees.
• they may also ask to speak with you about what you’ve experienced and refer you to a specialist investigator.
• police must take action to ensure you and your children are safe and protect any property. Refer to the Victoria Police Response (Options) Model page for what happens next.

Police Conduct Unit, Professional Standards Command

All reports made against Victoria Police employees are recorded by the Police Conduct Unit.

The Police Conduct Unit will review and assess the complaint, before allocating the complaint to either a qualified regional investigator or a specialist unit such as SOFVU.

The Police Conduct Unit can be contacted as follows:

• by calling 1300 363 101
• in writing to:
  • Police Conduct Unit
    GPO Box 913
    Melbourne
    Vic 3001
• submit an online form on our Compliments and complaints page

If you are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent you may request to directly speak with a Police Aboriginal Liaison Officer at the Police Conduct Unit.

When you contact the Police Conduct Unit, they will ask you for a lot of information about when and where things happened.

It is helpful to have information about any witnesses, vehicle registrations or other supporting documents available to help us assess your complaint quickly.

Reporting Directly to a Specialist Unit

Sexual Offences and Family Violence Unit (SOFVU), Professional Standards Command

The Sexual Offences and Family Violence Unit (SOFVU), formally known as Taskforce Salus, specialise in the investigation of sexual offences and family violence committed by police employees.

SOFVU offers independent and specialist resourcing to keep you safe and your information secure.

SOFVU investigators maintain objectivity and ensure there is no bias towards police. By adopting a victim-centric approach, SOFVU investigators seek to minimise re-traumatisation associated with the reporting and investigation by focusing on your needs, privacy and safety.

The types of matters that SOFVU can investigate include family violence which are of a complex nature and/or involves criminal (serious indictable) offences perpetrated by Victoria Police employees.

Complex family violence investigations include any incident where:

• strangulation is alleged
• repeat family violence behaviours by the employee is alleged
• there is a need for independence to manage a conflict of interest
• there is a requirement for a confidential investigation.

SOFVU also investigate Victoria Police employees who commit sexual offences, stalking, any intimate relationship the police employee has formed using their position as a Victoria Police employee (misconduct in public office) and serious misconduct involving sexual harassment (predatory behaviour).

If your matter does not fit the SOFVU criteria it will be allocated to a qualified regional investigator by the Police Conduct Unit. This may be a detective at a Family Violence Investigation Unit (FVIU), Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit (SOCIT) or a uniform member above the rank of sergeant.

All investigations allocated to qualified regional investigators require Professional Standards Command oversight to ensure there is no conflict of interest and that the investigation is appropriately managed.

SOFVU investigators can be contacted to provide advice on investigations involving police employees regardless of who your matter is allocated to.

Contact SOFVU:

• call (03) 8335 6700
• email PSC-SOFVU-OIC@police.vic.gov.au

Witness Support Unit - SOFVU

Support and welfare are vital ingredients in assisting you to manage your situation. The SOFVU Witness Support Unit (WSU) employs dedicated and experienced workers who are trained to provide specialised assistance in these types of matters. Their role is to support you. They also assist the investigators in developing a management plan to ensure you are safe and supported.

Although SOFVU WSU predominately support SOFVU investigations they can provide support to you if your matter is investigated by a regional investigator. Speak to your investigator or to SOFVU if you are seeking additional support.

Multidisciplinary Centres

There are several multidisciplinary centres (MDCs) across Victoria. These sites bring together a range of agencies in the one building to provide a victim-centred, integrated and holistic response to victim survivors of sexual assault, child abuse and, in some locations, family violence.

These agencies include:

• Victoria Police specialist investigators (SOCITs and in some locations Family Violence Investigation Units)
• Child Protection staff from Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, counsellors and advocates from sexual assault
• Family violence response services and community health nurses.

Some MDCs also have forensic medical officers attend from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) who may be able to provide expert forensic opinions or undertake forensic examinations on-site to support police investigations.

MDC buildings are deliberately located away from police stations and are carefully designed to provide a safe, welcoming and confidential environment for you and your support people. MDCs are discreetly located with minimal external signage to enhance the privacy and security of clients.

Extensive consideration is given to ensure that the buildings are culturally respectful, support your wellbeing, are accessible and facilitate a high level of confidentiality. Police officers working from the MDC are not in uniform. All agencies located within the MDC work together to ensure they provide a victim-centric and holistic response.

MDCs are a ‘one stop shop’ providing safe and discreet access to:

• Specially trained police investigators
• Counselling and advocacy support
• Private counselling rooms and group therapy spaces
• Video audio recorded evidence (VARE) rooms where child victim survivors and adults with cognitive impairments can provide their statement to police
• Clinic rooms where victims can have their general health and wellbeing needs assessed by qualified community health nurses
• Treatment programs for children and young people up to 18 years of age who are displaying or engaging in sexually abusive behaviours
• Forensic medical suites (at some locations) to enable forensic examinations on site
• Remote witness facilities (at some locations) so you can provide your evidence to court.

For more information refer to the MDC information sheet (please note, this document is currently under review):

There are seven sites located across Victoria:

• Bendigo
• Dandenong
• Geelong
• Mildura
• Morwell
• Seaford
• Wyndham.

There are community services available to you that allow for anonymous reporting. These services also specialise in providing advice to assist with improving your safety through safety planning and can provide counselling support or further referral assistance.

The following agencies will assist you on an anonymous basis:

• Lifeline
• 1800Respect
• Crime Stoppers

Anonymous complaints can also be made directly to the SOFVU, Professional Standards Command and IBAC.

Safety Plans

A safety plan is a set of actions that can help you lower your risk of being hurt by a family member. It includes information specific to you and your personal circumstances that will increase your safety.

Safety planning is a way to work on increasing safety when someone is experiencing family violence. The best way to make a safety plan is with the help of a support service. If you report family violence or sexual assault to Victoria Police, the investigator as part of risk assessment and investigation planning, will prioritise your safety needs. At SOFVU, a victim management plan will be drafted with the assistance of the Witness Support Unit. Ask your investigator for information and options that may assist in your own safety planning strategies.

Advice for safety planning can also be found on the 1800Respect website.

Victoria Police Family Violence policy outlines how police must respond to any incident of family violence including when Victoria Police employees are involved. The options model includes criminal, civil and referral actions.

Civil Process

Investigators will make an application for an intervention order when you or your children’s safety and welfare appears to be endangered and if there is property damaged or there are threats to your safety or your children or your property. The type of intervention order sought will reflect the unique complexities and risks associated with Victoria Police employees.

See the Courts-Intervention Order/Family Violence Safety Notice section of this guide.

Criminal Process

If an offence is identified, police must undertake a criminal investigation. Dependent on the circumstances and available evidence, the Victoria Police employee perpetrator may be arrested, interviewed, charged and taken to court. In most cases a statement will be required from all witnesses, including children. Children’s statements are taken by video (using VARE technology) by members who are specifically trained to do so. See the Criminal Complaint and Investigation section of this guide.

Referral

All Victoria Police investigators and uniform police officers make referrals when they complete the Family Violence Report. The investigator must tell you the referral has been made and explain how services can help.

Children are referred to Child Protection or Child FIRST depending on the circumstances. Child Protection is a statutory body legislated to protect children. Child FIRST is a family focused support agency.

Police are mandated to report to Child Protection any instances where they believe children are at risk of harm as a result of physical or sexual abuse.

Referrals to community service providers will also be made for the Victoria Police employee perpetrator, this may include for alternative accommodation options if removed from the home, referral to behavioural change programs or counselling. See the Family Violence and Sexual Offence Services Crisis and Support section of this guide.

For more information regarding Victoria Police’s response to family violence involving Victoria Police employees, visit our Family violence page.

Family Violence Intervention Orders

A family violence intervention order (FVIO) is a legal order issued by a court that aims to protect you from further family violence.

There are a number of ways to obtain a family violence intervention order. You can make an application yourself by contacting the Magistrates’ Court or Children’s Court to obtain advice on a family violence intervention order (Civil Process).

For more information refer to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria website.

Police Initiated Intervention Order

To determine what kind of family violence intervention order is required, investigators will assess the nature of the allegations to determine the most appropriate intervention order.

Family Violence Safety Notice

Investigators can apply for a family violence safety notice (FVSN) if you need immediate protection. A safety notice can protect you before an intervention order application is heard in court.
Only a police officer above the rank of sergeant can issue a family violence safety notice. A safety notice can make sure you and any children are safe from the perpetrator and assist to protect property from damage.

An investigator can apply for a family violence safety notice even if you do not want them to. If this occurs, the investigator will ensure the police employee perpetrator is notified that the application for the safety notice is the investigator’s decision.

Service of Family Violence Safety Notice

Once a family violence safety notice is issued, a police officer must serve a copy to the perpetrator and explain what the notice means. You will also get a copy.

A family violence safety notice is also a summons for the perpetrator to go to court and will have the time, date and location of the first court date.

The first court date must be within 14 days of the safety notice being served on the perpetrator.

How a Safety Notice Works

A family violence safety notice starts once it has been served on the police employee perpetrator by a police officer.

A safety notice has conditions (rules) to stop the police employee perpetrator from using family violence. They may include the same conditions as a court issued intervention order. If the perpetrator disobeys the conditions, any police officer can arrest them.

A safety notice continues until a magistrate decides:

• to make a family violence intervention order and it is served on the police employee perpetrator or,
• not to make a family violence intervention order.

Leaving the Family Home

To protect family members, the police can include a condition in the safety notice that the police employee perpetrator must leave the family home immediately, even if it is a police provided property. This means the police employee perpetrator must not live in, re-enter or visit the home until a magistrate decides what will happen next.

A referral can be made for a perpetrator to a community services provider for alternative accommodation if required. If the police employee perpetrator refuses to leave or returns to the family home, any police officer may arrest them. The police can also charge the police employee perpetrator with a criminal offence for breaching the conditions of the safety notice.

Family Violence Intervention Order

In circumstances where a family violence safety notice has not been issued or a variation is required, police may initiate other ways to take an intervention order on your behalf.

Family Violence Intervention Order Process

Police will first determine that a family violence intervention order is required and then determine what kind is appropriate.

Police will then prepare the application to the courts for the family violence intervention order either by summons or warrant dependent on the specific circumstances of each incident.

Summons Interim

This process is used for after-hours applications.

Summons

This application is undertaken in business hours.

If a summons interim or summons in required, the below follows:

If a warrant is required, the below follows:

All processes then receive the following:

Investigation

In addition to civil responses for intervention orders, there are criminal investigations that occur for incidents involving Victoria Police employees where a crime is alleged. The following investigation processes apply for family violence, sexual offences and child abuse matters.

The investigator will be required to declare and document any actual or perceived conflict of interest to ensure impartiality throughout the investigation. If a conflict of interest is identified the investigation will be transferred to another investigator.

A criminal investigation involves taking the matter to court:

• as part of evidence collection, you will be asked to make a statement and may also need to attend court.
• once you have made a statement it is referred to as a formal report.
• the court requires evidence to be strong to prove the charge ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
• police will gather evidence for a Brief of Evidence. This may take some time.
• you have the right to be kept informed about how the investigation is going.
• the investigator will provide you with updates on the progress of the investigation. These include things such as arrest and interview of the perpetrator, when or if they will be charged, brief authorisation and time frames, court dates and outcomes.
• the investigator must comply with the Victims Charter Act 2006. For further information regarding the investigator’s responsibilities in complying with the Victims Charter Act 2006 visit the Victims of crime website

Charged with a Criminal Offence

If there is sufficient evidence, the police employee perpetrator will be interviewed. After the interview there are several outcomes:

• charge and remand - the perpetrator will be held in custody of police until a specified court date
• charge and bail - the perpetrator is charged with the offence and is released to attend a court date with certain bail conditions
• charge and summons - the perpetrator is served with charges and given a date to appear at court
• intent to summons - the investigator intends to charge however collection and assessment of further evidence is required first to meet the threshold to authorise criminal charges
• released with enquires pending (EP) - this means that further investigation is required to ensure there is sufficient evidence to charge the police employee perpetrator
• no further police action (NFPA) following submission of a brief for insufficient evidence or the complaint was withdrawn by you
• exonerated - the evidence did not support the allegation.

Authorisation of Criminal Charges

All Victorian initiated criminal charges against Victoria Police employees require authorisation by the Assistant Commissioner, Professional Standards Command. The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) assists Victoria Police to determine if there is sufficient evidence to recommend or not recommend charging the Victoria Police employee.

If the perpetrator is charged with a criminal offence:

• you have the right to know what the charges are, the court location and date of the hearing
• if you are required to go to court, you will receive a witness summons
• at court you will be treated with respect and the investigator and/or support person will explain the process to you
• the matter will be prosecuted by a police lawyer or may be referred to the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office (VGSO) for independent legal advice if a conflict of interest is identified.

Police and OPP will consider your preference not to participate in a criminal investigation. You can choose to opt out of the criminal process at any time by making a statement of no complaint, which withdraws your co-operation in the criminal proceedings. You should never be pressured to make a statement of no complaint by police.

Charges are not progressed

If there is insufficient evidence this may result in no person being charged with an offence. If there is insufficient evidence for a criminal charge, Victoria Police may still consider a discipline charge for the alleged offence(s).

When charges are not progressed, you have the right to know why. The investigator should explain this to you and provide written correspondence of the result. Children may also be asked to make a statement and provide evidence.

If you wish to request a case review regarding the outcome you can do this by writing to the officer in charge of the investigating unit and request a case review meeting. Within one month of the request, you should be contacted by a resolution officer to discuss.

For police officers, discipline investigations are undertaken in compliance with the Victoria Police Act 2013. For other police employees, misconduct is managed by the Victoria Public Service Agreement 2020.

It is important to understand, where there is a criminal offence disclosed, the investigator must investigate this and have the charges assessed by the Assistant Commissioner of Professional Standards Command (see criminal investigation section).

Professional Standards Command undertake a thorough and consistent assessment of whether a complaint is required to be managed through the Victoria Police Discipline System.

Discipline Process for Police and Protective Services Officers

A discipline investigation for police officers and protective services officers, if proven, can result in several disciplinary sanctions. These can include formal sanctions which are recorded on the police employee perpetrator’s Victoria Police Employment Record as:

• formal workplace guidance
• written admonishment
• for more serious misconduct a ‘Discipline Charge Notice’ (DCN).

The Discipline Charge Notice approved by the Assistant Commissioner of Professional Standards Command

• a Discipline Charge Notice requires a police employee perpetrator to attend a Discipline Inquiry
• the investigator will update you regarding the Discipline Inquiry dates
• you may be required to attend the inquiry for the purpose of giving evidence.

Discipline Inquiry

The inquiry officer’s role is to hear evidence and make a finding as to whether a charge for a breach of discipline against an officer has been proven and make a determination.

You can make a submission to the inquiry officer regarding the impact of the Victoria Police employees conduct for consideration when determining the appropriate sanction.

The standard of proof required to prove a discipline charge is ‘on the balance of probability’.

Outcome of Discipline Inquiry

If the allegations are determined as proven by the discipline inquiry officer, the sanctions available include, but are not limited to:

• dismissal of the perpetrator
• demotion of the perpetrator
• transfer of duties
• a monetary fine or good behaviour bond
• impose a period of time the perpetrator cannot be promoted
• reduce the perpetrator’s remuneration
• direct the perpetrator to undergo an appropriate behavioural course.

Discipline Process for Victorian Public Service (VPS) employees

Victoria Police Workplace Relations Division is responsible for the investigation of misconduct by Victorian Public Service employees.

An investigation will be undertaken by an investigator nominated from within the Workplace Relations Division. Once the investigation is complete, the employee will be notified of the allegations and has 10 days to respond before a discipline outcome is determined. Possible outcomes include:

• No action
• Performance management
• Formal counselling
• Formal warning
• Final warning
• Assignment to a lesser role
• Transfer to another role
• Termination of employment.

For further information regarding the VPS Enterprise Agreement and management and investigation of misconduct by VPS employees visit the Victorian Public Sector Commission website or speak to your investigator from Workplace Relations Division.

Suspending or Transferring Victoria Police Employees

Interim action is the process undertaken by Victoria Police to direct an employee to take leave, suspend them or transfer them to another work location or alternative duties.

Any Victoria Police employee who is under criminal or discipline investigation can be subjected to a direction by the interim action process.

The Assistant Commissioner, Professional Standards Command, decides what action is undertaken for all police and protective services officers for interim action. The Director, Workplace Relations Department, decides what action is taken against a Victorian Public Service employee under interim action.

In considering interim action the Assistant Commissioner or Director evaluates your view or concerns, seriousness of the allegations, strength of the evidence, community expectations, impact on the reputation of Victoria Police and the risk to you, the community and Victoria Police if the Victoria Police employee remains in the workplace.

If the Victoria Police employee is suspended, it can be with pay or without pay. Once suspended, their access to police systems, facilities and operational equipment is restricted.

Victoria Police’s primary concern is your safety and that of your children. If you have concerns regarding loss of family income, you can speak to your investigator about the interim action process. As part of the welfare and support assessment, investigators can assist you to make referrals to support agencies for financial assistance. You can also speak to your witness support worker regarding referrals and assistance options.

Lawyers can provide advice and assistance in helping you to negotiate the complex and sometimes confusing aspects and interaction of the family law system and Victoria’s family violence protection regime. Victoria Police will provide a police prosecutor or lawyer for criminal or civil matters reported to Victoria Police.

For other advice, lawyers are to be independently engaged and can assist with safety planning and holistic strategy in relation to:

• Family law matters
• Child support agency
• Family violence intervention orders
• Criminal complaint options
• Child protection concerns
• Designing safety plans
• Referring to domestic family violence support services, refuges, etc. as appropriate.

Lawyers can help you in drafting statements, gathering evidence and planning for court appearances, as well as helping with varying and applying for a family violence intervention order.

Disclosure to Medical Professional

A disclosure can be made to your medical professional. If you are not comfortable disclosing all of your experiences to police, then you might prefer to talk to your trusted medical professional about any harm you’ve experienced.

It is also important to look after yourself or any children and get treatment for any injuries caused from family violence or sexual violence.

Your medical professional will be able to make a record of any injuries or safety concerns you have.

If needed, these records can be used by police investigators later to assist with evidence against your perpetrator.

Mandatory Reporting for Medical Professionals

In Victoria, under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, medical professionals must make a report to Child Protection if:

• in the course of practising their profession or carrying out duties of their office, position or employment they form a belief on reasonable grounds that a child is in need of protection from physical injury or sexual abuse.

Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) is Victoria’s anti-corruption agency with jurisdiction over the public sector. IBAC has jurisdiction to investigate serious corruption and police misconduct. This includes where police have failed to act in line with community expectations.

IBAC do not investigate complaints of family violence, however it can initiate a complaint on your behalf, referring the matter to Professional Standards Command for investigation regarding:

• duty failure or lack of action
• concerns their reported matter was not investigated thoroughly
• the informant failing to notify you on the progress of an investigation
• the informant failing to provide you with advice or assistance.

IBAC may investigate matters where it is alleged a Victoria Police employee has acted in an unprofessional or unlawful manner while on duty.

Victoria Police employees and community members can lodge a complaint about a Victoria Police employee directly to IBAC by calling 1300 735 135 or emailing info@ibac.vic.gov.au.

Victims of Crime Commissioner

The Victims’ Charter Act 2006 sets out principles for how agencies should treat you or your family members. The Commissioner can only investigate complaints that relate to an agency’s compliance with these principles. The Victims of Crime Commissioner cannot accept or investigate complaints about an individual’s conduct or the outcome of a criminal case.

If you believe Victoria Police has not treated you or a family member in line with the Victims’ Charter Act and are unable to resolve the matter with Victoria Police directly, you can also make a complaint to the Victims of Crime Commissioner.

For further information regarding the Victims’ Charter Act 2006, visit the Legislation website. Contact the Victims of Crime Commissioner by calling 1800 010 017 or emailing enquiries@vocc.vic.gov.au.

Sexual offences crisis and support

Community service providers are available for anyone who has experienced harm or violence. They can talk to you about getting support, creating a safety plan or provide information on:

• court processes (criminal and civil)
• family court legal advice
• risk assessments and safety planning
• emotional and material support
• advocacy
• information and referrals.

The following is a list of referral agencies for you if you are seeking support for sexual offences.

Family violence crisis and support

A full list of family violence information and support can be found here:

Affected Party – Is the person who is impacted by the offending or behaviour of the perpetrator of family violence. This term is used in the place of victim or affected family member in this document.

Affected family member (AFM) – Defined in s.4, Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (FVPA). The family member whose person or property is the subject of an application for an order. Once an intervention order is granted the person is known as the protected person. Used interchangeably to refer to victims of family violence as an intervention order is not always sought or granted.

CIU – Crime Investigation Unit.

Family Violence Report (FVR Form L17) – Victoria Police Risk Assessment and Risk Management Report.

FVI – Family Violence Incident.

FVIU – (Regional) Family Violence and Investigation Units.

Interim Action – The Assistant Commissioner, Professional Standards Command or the Director, Workplace Relations Division reasonably believes an employee to have committed a criminal offence or a discipline offence. They may either transfer the employee to other duties, direct the police officer or protective services officer to take any accrued leave (other than sick leave) or suspend the police officer or protective services officer with or without pay.

Intervention order – General term to refer to all types of orders; being family violence safety notices (FVSN), interim family violence intervention orders (interim FVIO) and final family violence intervention orders (FVIO).

Investigator – A Victoria Police employee who is allocated your complaint for either criminal or discipline investigation.

Police member (or member) – Any person, excluding VPS employees, employed by Victoria Police in accordance with s.7, Victoria Police Act 2013. This means police officer, protective services officer (PSO), recruit, and reservist except where an instruction specifically states otherwise. However, any authority or responsibility may only be exercised within the limits of the duties of the position and their legal authorities and responsibilities.

Police employee perpetrator – A Victoria Police employee who is the party to the family violence incident who, by their actions in the incident and through known history and actions, has caused the most physical harm, fear, and intimidation against the other.

PSC – Professional Standards Command.

Respondent – Defined in Section 4, Family Violence Protection Act 2008. The person against whom an application for, or actual intervention order has been, made or issued. Used interchangeably to refer to a perpetrator of family violence as an intervention order is not always sought or granted.

ROCSID – Register of Complaints Serious Incidents and Discipline. This is a comprehensive complaints management and investigation database that records and monitors complaints against Victoria Police employees.

SOCIT – Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team.

Subject Employee – The Victoria Police employee who has had an allegation of complaint and is under investigation.

VARE – Video and Audio Recorded Evidence according to the Criminal Procedure Act 2009.

Victorian Public Service (VPS) employees – Any person employed by Victoria Police, including police custody officers (PCOs) in accordance with the Public Administration Act 2004.

Victoria Police employees – All Victoria Police personnel, including police members, reservists, protective services officers, recruits, and VPS employees.

VPM – Victoria Police Manual policies and procedures.