Electronic service of documents by police

This information does NOT relate to eTickets issued for traffic infringement notices. Read more about Queensland eTickets.

What are electronic documents?

Electronic documents are any files or documents you can access, read, or share on a computer, phone, or other digital device - instead of paper. Examples of electronic documents include Word documents, PDFs, and emails.

What documents can be electronically served by police?

Certain documents relating to an investigation or related court matter may be served on you electronically by Queensland Police Officers. This means you can choose to receive some documents by email and MMS during and after an interaction with a Queensland Police Officer. 

Electronic service of these documents can only be made with your consent, provided by you to a police officer. 

How do I give informed consent for electronic service of documents?

Police will request your informed consent for electronic service of documents, in person during a police investigation. This consent will be recorded by the police officer on body worn camera or in writing.

By providing informed consent for electronic service, you agree to give the Queensland Police Service your personal mobile phone number and personal email address. Documents relating to the investigation or court matter may then be sent to you by email or MMS message. 

Consent for electronic service of documents expires 6 months after the day it is given. Consent for electronic service of documents may end sooner if:

• consent is withdrawn by you in writing.
• you are detained in a corrective services facility or detention centre.
• you are detained in an authorised mental health service or public sector health service facility under the Mental Health Act 2016.

How do I withdraw consent for electronic service of documents?

If you have given informed consent for electronic service of documents (less than 6 months ago) and wish to withdraw that consent, you can withdraw your consent using the online Withdrawal of Consent portal. Withdrawal of consent requests must be received in writing. 

What happens to my personal contact information when I give consent for electronic service of documents?

Your personal details will be safely stored in QPS systems according to the Queensland Government Information Privacy Act 2009.

What should I do if I have deleted or not received the electronic documents?

If you need a replacement document because you deleted or never received a document you were expecting to receive by email or MMS message, you are advised to contact or attend at a police station.  

I have questions about the documents I received by email or MMS, who should I contact?

If you have been sent a document by email or MMS by the Queensland Police Service and would like more information about that document, contact the issuing police station named on the document. Contact details for the issuing station can be found using the Police Station Locator tool. If the issuing police station is not known, contact Policelink on 131 444.

If you received a domestic violence order (DVO) issued by a Queensland court and would like more information, visit the Queensland Courts website or contact your local court registry.

Do not reply to the email or MMS you received. The messages are automatically generated and are not monitored.

What do I do if I need to change the email address or personal mobile phone number given to police?

Requests to change a personal email or personal mobile phone number, which was given to police for electronic service of documents, will need to be made in person at a police station. You may be asked to produce proof of identity when making this request.  

If you are unable to attend a police station you can contact the police officer who you gave consent for electronic service. If you do not have the details of that officer, contact Policelink on 131 444.

I think I’ve received a scam document by email or MMS message.  

If you haven’t spoken to a police officer and given your consent to receive documents electronically, within the past 6 months, but have received a document by email or text which looks like it is from the Queensland Police Service, it is possibly a scam.

1. Do not open any links or attachments.
2. Delete the email or text message.

If you wish to report the receipt of a fraudulent email or text message, contact ScamWatch. ScamWatch also provides advice for spotting fraudulent or scam emails or text messages.

If you have opened the malicious file or have fallen victim to the scam, report the incident to the Australian Government’s Report Cyber service. They'll direct it to the right law enforcement agency for investigation. It's easy to report a crime. You'll need to answer a few questions about what happened. It should only take about 15 minutes.

If you need immediate assistance, the Australian Cyber Security Centre has a 24/7 Hotline: 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371).