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New Paperwork Required For CPIC ChecksLocal volunteer groups see an increased burden to the volunteer police check process from a new form that needs to be filled out. Those seeking a police records check for volunteering with children, seniors or other vulnerable people, require police checks. To start the process, the volunteer needed a letter from the organization. Effective since May 18, once the volunteer turns in their letter, brings appropriate identification, they are given an OPP (Ontario Provincial police) Agency letter that must be filled out by a representative of the group being volunteered for and returned to the police station. Jim Hart, president of Tillsonburg Minor Ball, said the executive didn't realize there were changes until after they distributed letters to coaches. "The procedures they are putting in now are making it difficult to get it done," he said. He said the process is becoming a headache. " You want to ensure everybody's above board, but there has to be an easier way to get it done," Hart said. Seb Fardella, vice-president Tillsonburg Minor Soccer Club, said with 90 teams and potentially two or more coaches per team, filling out each form individually could be a huge workload. "Even if it only takes 10 minutes per form, that's hours of paperwork and then distributing them afterwards will take three times the time," he said. Fardella said all the work is being done by volunteers and the club might have to look at not doing police checks in the future. Oxford OPP Const. Dennis Harwood said local volunteer groups would gradually be contacted to provide copies of the agency letter to start with. There is still no fee for those who want a record check for volunteer purposes as long as they are Oxford County residents or are volunteering in the Oxford OPP area. Any letters for employment, or other, purposes, will require a $25 fee. Those who need to pay this fee are asked to have the correct change in cash. Harwood cautioned not to leave filling the paper work out until the last minute. "I want to emphasize if someone comes in and the bus is in the parking lot, it won't happen," he said. "This is to protect children and we won't be rushed. Poor planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on our part." Usually it takes a week to have the check done for volunteers, but that can stretch to two weeks during busy periods in May and October. Checks for employment purposes are usually expedited. The situation also changes if a criminal record is found. At that point, the OPP will provide a letter stating the applicant may or may not have a criminal record. To go further and check the CPIC data banks takes longer, requires fingerprints for validation and costs another $50. These changes were due to new policy from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that only allows the release of information in the CPIC identification data banks after the person applying submits fingerprints to verify their identification. The typical week or two it usually takes for a criminal record check no longer applies. It can take 120 to 150 days to process the record check. |
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