The Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board has given its approval to a new, online criminal record check system, which, while more expensive for citizens, will be more convenient.
The board gave its approval at its Thursday meeting.
The move comes after a recent KPMG report urged Sault Police to find ways to save money using technology, said Deputy Chief Sean Sparling.
As things currently stand, a civilian employee at the front desk of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service building processes criminal record checks for employment and volunteers (such as hockey coaches and many others).
Roughly 5,400 checks are being done each year, bringing in $125,000 in revenue for the police, but requires two full-time employees to perform that work.
Forrest Green Solutions Ltd., in cooperation with the Cobourg Police Service, can build a webpage for Sault Police, linked to the Sault Police website, whereby citizens needing a criminal record check may register on that website.
The online application will go to Cobourg Police, who will then complete the application and ship it back to the client.
Forrest Green will charge the client $10, Cobourg Police will charge the client $5, a revenue stream for both agencies.
By doing so, Sparling anticipates Sault Police can free up one or two civilian employees, to be re-assigned within the organization.
By not doing so, Sparling said Sault Police could lose about $30,000 in revenue annually.
Revenue will stay the same for the Sault Police Service, but up to two full time civilian employees, much needed for the service, will be freed up to work in other areas.
“There will be certain ones that will still have to come here to be fingerprinted but it’s all going to be managed offsite in Cobourg. Cobourg’s been doing this for quite a number of private organizations, they’re doing a couple of hundred thousand record checks a year right now, and they’re just moving into the police sector and we’re one of three getting on board with them,” Sparling said.
“It can be done (online) 24 and 7 from your home (as opposed to reporting to the Sault Police building during regular business hours),” said Sault Police Chief Hugh Stevenson.
Clients will receive their record checks in two days.
Total cost for a criminal record check through the Forrest Green/Cobourg system will go from $40 to $55 for employment purposes and from $15 to $30 for volunteers, with the convenience of being able to go through the process online.
Despite the board’s approval Thursday, final approval for the Forrest Green/Cobourg system will rest with a new city council, to be sworn in after the Oct. 22 municipal election.