Privacy in the QPS

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information responsibly and transparently in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (IP Act) when we deliver services to the Queensland community. 

The IP Act contains 10 Queensland Privacy Principles (QPP) which detail how the QPS must collect, store, maintain, use and disclose personal information in its possession. The IP Act also contains rules about transferring personal information out of Australia and about contracted service providers who perform services on behalf of the QPS.

When the QPS performs law enforcement functions certain exceptions to the QPPs apply if non-compliance with the QPP is reasonably necessary for the performance of that function. More information about special law enforcement provisions in the IP Act is available from the Queensland Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC). 

What is personal information?

Personal information is any information that would allow an individual to be identified. Section 12 of the IP Act defines personal information as: 

‘information or an opinion about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable from the information or opinion –

a) whether the information or opinion is true or not; and

b) whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.’

Examples of personal information include a person’s name, address, phone number, date of birth, gender, and physical characteristics including height, birthmarks and tattoos.  Personal information can be stored on a variety of media such as paper, electronic database, photographic and video image, audiotape, digital formats, body samples and biometric data.

Online Privacy Notice 

The QPS’ Online Privacy Notice sets out how we manage your personal information in accordance with QPP 5. When you engage with our online services or communicate with us we may ask you to provide personal information necessary to perform functions and provide services under the authority of the Police Service Administration Act 1990.

QPP Privacy Policy 

QPP 1 requires the publication of a QPP Privacy Policy which contains information about the management of personal information in the QPS including: 

• the kinds of personal information that the QPS collects and holds
• how personal information is collected and held
• the purposes for the collection, use and disclosure  
• how an individual may seek access to or correction of personal information held
• how a privacy complaint may be made and how the complaint is managed
• information about when personal information may be disclosed outside Australia

Data breaches

The QPS Data Breach Policy outlines the QPS’ approach to complying with the Mandatory Notification of Data Breach scheme (MNDB), identification and reporting of data breaches and the steps essential to the appropriate containment, assessment and management of eligible data breaches. 

Public notifications

The Public Notifications page contains the details of the public notification of an eligible data breach under s53(1)(c) of the IP Act. A public notification is provided when it is not reasonably practicable to directly notify any or all of the individuals affected by an eligible data breach.

A list of all public notifications made by QPS is located in the Public Notifications page. The QPS will publish Public Notifications for a period of at least 12 months in accordance with the IP Act.

More privacy resources

The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) provides information and resources about your privacy rights and how the QPS and other Queensland government agencies and ministers are required to handle your personal information.

Each year, the OIC joins with Australian and international privacy regulators and government agencies during Privacy Awareness Week to promote a stronger understanding of privacy rights and obligations among public sector employees and the wider community.

Contact us about privacy

Contact the QPS Privacy Unit for more information about privacy in the QPS: privacy@police.qld.gov.au