Notice of Fee Increase for Police Information Checks, No Charge for Volunteer Checks

Effective immediately, the fee for Police Information Checks, previously called Criminal Record Checks, charged by the Regina Police Service, has increased from $35.00 to $45.00.  (The last two fee increases were: March 1, 2011 when the fee for Criminal Record Checks for employment purposes increased from $30.00 to $35.00, and April, 2007 when the fee increased from $25.00 to $30.00.)  The Regina Police Service does not charge a fee to those requesting Police Information Checks in order to perform volunteer service.

The change comes about, in part, to keep step with increases in fees for Police Information Checks across Canada.  Even with this increase, Regina’s new $45.00 fee compares favorably with those charged by other municipal police services, many of which charge volunteers for this service.  For example:

The fee increase also comes about in response to an increase in the demand for Police Information Checks, often as required by potential employers.  This demand has increased significantly over a 15-year period.  For example: in 1997, the Regina Police Service did 146 volunteer Police Information Checks and 2,182 paid Police Information Checks; in 2004 there were 4,776 volunteer Police Information Checks and 6,650 paid Police Information Checks.  In 2010, the Regina Police Service did 5,399 volunteer Police Information Checks and 11,047 paid Police Information Checks.  The total number of Police Information Checks in 2012 was 20,153.

In recent years, the Regina Police Service has assigned additional personnel to handle the workload and renovated a reception area on the second floor to accommodate the increased traffic and improve customer service.  With this latest change, there will be another person hired in the Police Information Check area.  Technology has improved as well, with the Regina Police Service acquiring specialized equipment that allows police to submit fingerprints electronically.  The improvement in technology has an associated cost to the Service, but it benefits the public by reducing wait times for results.

Anyone requesting a Police Information Check for employment or volunteer work must attend the Regina Police Service Headquarters building (1717 Osler Street), in person, with two pieces of government-issued identification.  At least one piece of i-d must have the individual’s photograph. The hours of operations are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday (closed weekend and holidays).  Police Information Checks will not be processed for anyone under the age of eighteen.