Freedom of Information requests are required to access police file information. You may attain a Freedom of Information Request Form online or pick up a form at Nelson Police Department at 606 Stanley Street.  Once you have completed all applicable sections of the form, the original form can be email to administration@nelsonpolice.ca or mailed to our office or dropped off at the front counter during regular office hours. You will be notified via telephone when your request has been processed and is ready for pick up. You are required to attend the office in person, with identification, in order to obtain a copy of your request.

Information That Will Not Be Provided

If the record you requested contains personal information about someone else, and it would be an unreasonable invasion of that person’s personal privacy to provide that personal information, access to that information will not be granted without written consent or a Court Order.

If you are an insurance company, law firm, or other service provider seeking records involving your client, you may submit your request in letter form and enclosing a written authorization from your client for us to release information. We will not begin processing your request until all of these items have been received.

Fees

In accordance with FOIPPA, Nelson Police Department charges reasonable fees for the release of records. There is no charge for an individual to request their own personal information.

Delivery of Response

We will mail your response to your address as indicated on the request form. Alternatively, upon request, we will phone you to pick up your response at our office. We do not fax or email responses out of concern for personal privacy.

Time for Response

All requests are processed in the order in which they are received. Pursuant to FOIPPA, we have up to thirty business days to respond to your request, unless an extension for a further thirty days is granted by reason of the number of records requested, the regular time limit is not sufficient to locate the records, or the Nelson Police Department must consult with third parties before access can be granted. Usually we respond well within the initial 30 day period.

Severing

When you receive your response, you may notice that certain information has been blacked out or severed. The Nelson Police Department must comply with the strict guidelines for the release of information as set out in FOIPPA. For example, we must withhold the personal information of third parties, and may withhold information that could harm a law enforcement matter or information that we have received from another government agency. Other information may be severed depending on the nature of the request. Of course, if we sever information, we will explain our reasons for doing so.