Police Background Checks

A criminal record screening certificate conducted by your local police service offers the most comprehensive approach to ensuring public safety. Police services, like the Cape Breton Regional Police Service, are able to survey and provide additional information not included in third-party criminal background checks that might only reference the federal RCMP CPIC database.

Additional information may exist, including criminal convictions for offences not supported by fingerprints (and therefore do not reside in the RCMP database), as well as potentially relevant non-conviction details including investigations where charges were not laid, charges that did not lead to convictions, and non-criminal offences such as disputes and disturbances. While non-convictions and police contact information is generally withheld from release, there are provisions under the Exceptional Disclosure Assessment where the police are permitted to include this detail in a Vulnerable Sector background check in the interest of public safety.

While some third party companies offer faster results, you may not be getting as much information as might potentially be available. Be informed and aware of limitations that may exist.

For specific examples where a VS check may and may not be appropriate, please click here

For a comparison of the reports currently offered, please click here.

Benefits of working with your local police ... [read more]

Applicants with a criminal record? ... [read more]