Police custody officers must follow Victoria Police's policies, appearance standards and code of conduct.
Be aware how this may impact your personal and professional life before you start the application and recruitment process.
What we expect
Victoria Police employees must follow the expected standards at all times.
Police custody officers must adhere to:
- the Victoria Police code of conduct
- uniform and appearance standards
- our drug and alcohol policy
- and other requirements.
The Victoria Police Act 2013
The Victoria Police Act 2013 imposes a duty on employees to be of good behaviour at all times.
Your conduct, both on and off duty, reflects on both you and Victoria Police.
Actions you take in your personal life may affect your employment. They may see you face internal discipline or criminal proceedings.
Victoria Police's organisational values
Your behaviour must demonstrate our organisational values.
Our organisational values underpin our policies, procedures and practices. They provide guidance on how we expect employees to interact with the community and each other.
Code of conduct
The Victoria Police Code of Conduct - Professional and Ethical Standards sets out behaviour requirements for all employees.
The code of conduct can also help you identify situations and associations which may lead to conflicts of interest.
Drugs and alcohol
During the application process, you will be tested for drugs and alcohol. You may also be tested during your employment with Victoria Police.
This means:
- You must be completely sober while on duty, and on call.
- You must be free of illegal drugs at all times, both on and off duty.
- If you are taking prescribed medications, you must disclose them in your application medical report.
Uniform and appearance
All employees must adhere to the Victoria Police Uniform and Appearance Policy.
Employee appearance must reflect a professional and disciplined law enforcement agency. This includes clothing, grooming and personal accessories.
You may seek an exemption on genuine medical, cultural or religious grounds.
You can apply for an exemption at the induction stage of the application process.
We will give you a shirt, pants, boots, socks and jackets.
Tattoos and tattoo placements
Victoria Police has updated their Uniform and Appearance Standards policy. This includes direction around tattoos/body art and piercings.
Employees must project an image of a professional and disciplined law enforcement agency.
Offensive tattoos
No offensive or inappropriate visible tattoos are permitted.
These are tattoos that include words, images or objects that could be viewed as:
- obscene, violent, defamatory, sexually explicit, discriminatory, harassing, insulting, threatening or racially intolerant
- constituting sexual harassment, or that are discriminatory or vilifying under equal opportunity legislation
- incompatible with Victoria Police's role, will affect our reputation, or diminish public confidence.
Face, neck and head tattoos
Face and head tattoos are not permitted.
Neck tattoos on the rear of the neck may be permitted, but must not extend forward of the neck, beyond an imaginary line drawn vertically from behind the back of the ear down to the shoulder.
Front of neck tattoos are not permitted.
Existing employees are not permitted to get additional body art on the face, head and/or front of the neck. All employees must cover or remove all body art or modifications that are offensive or inappropriate while on duty.
Hand tattoos
Hand tattoos may be permitted.
Leg and arms tattoos
Tattoos on the legs and arms may be permitted. They must be covered whilst on duty if they are deemed inappropriate or offensive.
Tattoo questions
If you have tattoos/body art on the head, face, neck or hands, please contact pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au before you apply.
Jewellery
Police custody officers can wear the following items of jewellery:
- wristwatches
- minimal rings of conservative style
- emergency medical alert bracelets or pendants.
Other jewellery, ornaments, adornments or accessories are not permitted. This includes:
- earrings
- spacers
- any facial or body piercings
- plugs
- tunnels
- bars
- chains
- dental grills
- or similar.
Secondary employment
Employees must gain approval from their Assistant Commissioner or Executive Director.
Secondary employment will not be approved if it conflicts with your role as a Victoria Police employee.
This includes the:
- liquor industry
- gaming industry
- racing industry
- transport industry
- firearms industry
- weapons industry
- private security industry, and
- sex industry.
Code of conduct, uniform and appearance questions
We can answer your questions before you submit your application.
Get in touch with our recruitment team by emailing pcoemployment@police.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).
You can also call (03) 8335 5003 (8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday).
Already started your application?
Continue your police custody officer application by logging in to our careers portal.
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