Crimes (Assumed Identities) Act 2004

After considering an application for an authority to acquire or use an assumed identity, and any additional information under section 4(4), the chief officer—

may grant an authority to acquire or use the assumed identity, either unconditionally or subject to conditions; or

may refuse the application.

An authority to acquire or use an assumed identity may not be granted unless the chief officer is satisfied on reasonable grounds—

that the assumed identity is necessary for the purposes of—

an investigation or intelligence-gathering in relation to criminal activity; or

enabling police officers to exercise their functions in administering the Victorian witness protection program or alternative protection arrangements and ensuring their safety while doing so; and

in relation to an application for an assumed identity that is to be used to ensure the effective and safe exercise of functions in administering the Victorian witness protection program or alternative protection arrangements, that the person to be authorised is—

a police officer; or

a Victoria Police employee; and

that the risk of abuse of the assumed identity by the authorised person is minimal; and

if the application is for authorisation of an assumed identity for a person who is not a law enforcement officer (other than a Victoria Police employee)—that it would be impossible or impracticable in the circumstances for a law enforcement officer to acquire or use the assumed identity for the purpose sought.

If an authority is granted for an authorised civilian, the chief officer must appoint a law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency to supervise the acquisition or use of the assumed identity by the authorised civilian.

The law enforcement officer appointed as supervisor must be—

of or above the rank of sergeant, in the case of Victoria Police;

of or above the rank of senior investigator, in the case of the Australian Crime Commission;

a person who holds a position, or is a member of a class, that is prescribed by the regulations, in the case of the IBAC.

An authority may also authorise any one or more of the following—

an application for an order for an entry in a register of births, deaths or marriages under section 10 or a corresponding law;

a request under section 13 or 24;

the use of an assumed identity in a participating jurisdiction.

A separate authority is required for each assumed identity.