This page is provided to help you understand the police checking process and delivery times.
Our submission time frames
Our business hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm (Queensland time), excluding National and Queensland public holidays.
All police checks received by us undergo an internal review before being submitted to the National Police Checking Service (NPCS). We verify the details you provided match your identification.
We submit verified orders to NPCS hourly during business hours.
Around 70 per cent of police checks are completed within one hour.
The remaining 30 per cent of police checks are referred to one or more police agencies. Sometimes this process takes longer than 10 business days. We have no control over (nor can we predict) which checks will be referred.
You will receive an SMS and email when your information is returned to us from the NPCS. Your certificate will be available to download from your account.
We have no control over how long it takes the NPCS system to return your check to us. And neither does any other Police Check Provider. Do not let them tell you otherwise.
National Police Checking Service Delivery Time
Approximately 70% of police checks are returned from the NPCS within an hour if they are ordered (and identification documents provided) during our business hours.
However, the process can take longer. Sometimes, much longer. Any delays in this process are due to hold-ups with the NPCS.
How the checking process works
When your check is submitted to the National Police Checking Service, your name, date of birth and gender are checked against a central database of names to find potential matches with people who have police history information. Any potential matches are refered to local police agencies for furthe investigation.
A potential match may be found if you or someone with similar details to yours is on the database. For example, if David Jones requests a police check, his check may be referred if he has a recorded conviction or pending charges. It will also be referred if police have recorded a conviction or pending charges for someone named David Jons, or Davy Jones or another David Jones with a similar date of birth.
Upon assessment
If the police determine that the referral is not a match, a ‘No Disclosable Court Outcomes’ result is released to the organisation that requested the check. The check is now closed.
If a match is confirmed, the police assess the police history information to determine what details can be released, taking into account the category and purpose of the check, any relevant legislation and/or information release policies.
The results are then released to the organisation that requested the check, indicating either:
- ‘No Disclosable Court Outcomes’, or
- ‘Disclosable Court Outcomes’, listing the relevant details, which may include: charges; court convictions, including penalties and sentences; findings of guilt with no conviction; court appearances; good behaviour bonds or other court orders; matters awaiting court hearing; or traffic offences.
Why to do the police take so long?
The police focus getting the certificate accurate, rather than speed of return. Sometimes, criminal records are not on the computer and will need to be retrieved from storage.
If a conviction is found, the police need to decide if the record is spent (out of date). In some cases, the result will be referred to your home jurisdiction for a final vetting.