News release

Missing Persons Act Will Help Police Find Loved Ones

Justice

The province is giving police another tool to help bring missing persons home to their families.

The Missing Persons Act, which will be introduced today, Dec. 3, will allow police to apply to a judge or justice of the peace to access personal information, like text messages and banking records, to help them search for missing persons. Police can only access this information now if they believe a crime has been committed.

"There can be no greater fear to families than when a loved one can't be found," said Justice Minister Ross Landry. "We want to give police another tool to bring loved ones home, while maintaining people's right to privacy."

The legislation will also allow police to seek access to a building if they believe a vulnerable missing person, or a missing minor, is inside.

In 2011, RCMP and Halifax Regional Police received a total of 1,400 missing persons reports.

"This would provide police across Nova Scotia with the tools needed to move more quickly and efficiently on those cases where we know the person is missing, but have no evidence that a crime has been committed," said Chief Supt. Brian Brennan, criminal operations officer for the RCMP in Nova Scotia. "We believe it would be very helpful to our investigators."

The legislation defines missing person as someone whose safety is in question. This is to ensure that when someone has chosen to go missing -- for example, a person who chooses to leave an abusive partner -- their privacy will be protected.

Bea LeBlanc, chairwoman of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, says she is happy with the proposed legislation.

"I believe any additional tools police can use to quickly and safely investigate missing persons cases will be very helpful to all Nova Scotians," said Ms. LeBlanc.

Justices of the peace and judges will decide whether police can access personal information, similar to the search warrant process. This balances the need for information with the protection of privacy.

The legislation includes strict controls on what police can do with the information. It can only be released to another police agency with an investigation, or to help find the missing person.