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Criminal History

Applicants must not have any findings of guilt or charges pending for an offence involving dishonesty, fraud, stealing or of any other offence of a nature that renders the applicant unsuitable to hold a licence. For further information please contact Licensing Services (Security) via email licensingservicessecondhand@police.wa.gov.au.

Change of Address

The Licensing Officer cannot issue or renew a licence without specifying in the licence the business premises and storage premises to which the licence applies. Licences are linked to business premises and storage premises, if these details are not maintained, your licence may become invalid.  To notify the Licensing Officer of any address changes, please email licensingservicessecondhand@police.wa.gov.au ensuring to include of the licence holders full name, date of birth, licence number, old address, new address and appropriate local government approval letters. Failure to do so can result in a licence being revoked through the State Administrative Tribunal.

Refund Policy

If a Licensing Officer declines to issue or renew a licence, the fee paid will be refunded to the Applicant.

If the Licensing Officer issues or renews a licence for a period that is less than the period applied for, then the applicant is entitled to a refund that is the difference between the fee paid and the fee applicable to the period for which the licence was issued or renewed.

Payment of Fees

Licensing Services (Security) accepts cash, cheques, money orders, EFTPOS and credit card payments. Cheques and money orders are to be made payable to The Commissioner of Police.  Please do not put cash in the post.

Processing Time for Applications/Renewals

Processing time is approximately 6-8 weeks for new applications and 4 weeks for renewals.

Renewal of Licences

A renewal notice will be sent out to license holders prior to the expiry date of the licence. Please advise Licensing Services (Security) of any change of postal address to ensure you receive your renewal form. It is however, the responsibility of the license holder to ensure their licence is renewed. Applications for the renewal of a licence are to be received by Licensing Services (Security) no later than 28 days before the day on which the licence is due to expire.

To Apply for Renewal of a Licence

1. Complete the Application to Renew a Licence form 

2. Provide three (3) passport size photographs (1x to be endorsed)

3. Pay the renewal application fee.

Do not send cash through the post. Cheques should be made payable to The Commissioner of Police.

Renewals can be made via post or in person. 

Where a licence expires and a person or company continues to trade they are liable to prosecution under the Act.

Proof of Age and Identity

To hold a Pawnbroker and/or Second-hand Dealer licence in Western Australia, you must be 18 years of age or older. All licence applications require the applicant to produce sufficient identification. 

An application for the issue of a licence is to be accompanied by any two (2) of the following:

Signs to be Displayed

A sign must be displayed so that it is clearly visible from the outside of your trading address. It must include the licensee’s name and the words “Licenced Pawnbroker” and/or “Licensed Second-hand Dealer”. The lettering is to be at least 50mm high in accordance with s.36 of the Act.

Goods Information - to be Provided to the Commissioner

Pawnbrokers and Second-hand Dealers are required by law to provide the Commissioner of Police with information in relation to each of the goods in their possession. A person who is a Pawnbroker and/or Second-hand Dealer is to send the information to the Commissioner via the approved method. Officers from Licensing Services (Security) can assist you with further information about the transferring of this information.

Inspections

Under the provisions of the Act, licence holders will be required to keep records of any current and former employees. Former employee records MUST be kept for a period of 12 months from the day the employee ceases employment at the premises. Police can and will inspect these records at any time during business hours.

All Employees

It is a requirement that the licence holder is to, in writing, provide the full name, current residential address and date of birth of any person who is, or proposed to be, employed at the business premises and will be entering into contracts at the premises, all directors and partners of the business. Furthermore, the licence holder will notify, in writing, the Licensing Officer on cessation of their employment.