Record Purge / File Destruction

If you are charged with a criminal offence even if the charge is subsequently dismissed, withdrawn or stayed, you have a criminal record. The record of the fact that you were charged as well as your fingerprints, photographs and any other information you gave at the time of your arrest is kept on file.

On your behalf, we petition the arresting police agency to remove the record of the fact you were arrested as well as any fingerprints, photographs and other information you may have provided at the time of your arrest. We request these be destroyed and further we petition them to delete your criminal record from the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) computer database. The process generally takes between 6 -12 months.

Police do maintain the right to retain files when they determine it is in the public’s best interest to do so. Each individual police agency has their own procedures and requirements relating to these applications.