Halifax Record Svc – Halifax, NS

Halifax Regional Police Records Overview

The ‘Halifax Record Svc’ refers to the Records Division of the Halifax Regional Police (HRP), located at the HRP Headquarters on Gottingen Street. This division serves as the central processing hub for criminal background checks and information management for the municipality’s law enforcement. While the police headquarters building is operational 24/7 for emergencies and specific front-desk reports, the administrative Records Division operates during standard business hours to assist the public with documentation and non-emergency requests.

Criminal Record Checks

One of the most frequent services provided is the processing of background checks for employment and volunteer purposes. The division handles two main types:

• Criminal Record Check (CRC): A name-based search of the national repository of criminal convictions and locally held police records.
• Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC): A more comprehensive check required for individuals working with children or vulnerable adults. This may require fingerprinting if the applicant’s gender and date of birth match a record in the pardoned sex offender database.

Administrative Services

Beyond background checks, the Records Division and front desk staff provide essential administrative support:

• Fingerprinting: Digital fingerprinting services are available for civil purposes, such as immigration, adoption, or name changes.
• Report Filing: Citizens can file reports for non-emergency incidents, such as property damage, theft, or motor vehicle collisions (where there are no injuries), directly at the front counter.
• Ticket Withdrawals: The desk processes requests related to the withdrawal or dispute of certain summary offense tickets.
• Property Release: Coordination of the release of seized vehicles or lost-and-found property (documentation and ID required).

Important Procedures

Applicants for record checks must provide two pieces of valid government-issued identification (one with a photo) and proof of residency in the Halifax Regional Municipality. While some services are available immediately, complex record checks can take up to 14 business days to process. The division strictly adheres to privacy legislation, ensuring that sensitive personal information is released only to authorized individuals.