3. Know what the police do with your information
Question & Answer
Can the police stop me and ask for my ID?The police must take notes about the street check. They must keep a record of whether you showed them your ID or told them who you are.
How the information is stored
Information given to the police during a street check is stored in the police database for 5 years. Police officers can access the information, but the public can’t. The information from street checks will not show up on a criminal record check.
Access to the information
After 5 years, the information from street checks becomes restricted. It can only be accessed if the Chief of Police gives permission. Permission is only given for public safety or legal reasons such as:
- an ongoing police investigation
- a legal proceeding
- meeting a legal requirement
Following the rules
Once the information is entered into the database, the police must review it within 30 days. At least once a year, they also do a detailed review. They look at a sample of entries to check that the police followed the rules for street checks.
If they find that an officer didn’t follow the street check rules, access to the information that was gathered is restricted immediately.
The police must publish an annual report that includes:
- how many times they tried to collect an ID through a street check
- how many times they didn’t follow the rules and why
- the age, sex, and race of the people they tried to collect an ID from
If you have a concern about how your ID was collected and managed, contact the Office of the Independent Review Director. Follow their procedure to make a complaint about the police.
