FOIP Request for Information | Lethbridge Police Service

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) Access and Privacy Unit works to ensure compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act and other statutes.

The FOIP Act establishes that members of the public should have:

A right of access to records held by a public body, subject to limited and specific exceptions
A right of access to one’s own personal information held by a public body, subject to limited and specific exceptions
A right to request the correction of one’s personal information held by a public body
The protection of personal information held by a public body
Independent review of a public body’s decisions by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

A FOIP Request for Information provides a formal method for requesting records held by LPS. It is intended to be an avenue of last resort, for when information is not available through other request procedures.

Making a FOIP Request for Information

The process for making a FOIP Request for Information will depend on whether you are hoping to make a:

Personal Request
General Request
Request to Correct Personal Information

In all cases, requests must be made in writing. While the LPS Access and Privacy Unit will accept any written request for records, it is recommended that the form for each type of request be used.

There may be fees associated with requests, depending on the type and volume of records being requested.

Continuing requests can also be considered when a request is processed repeatedly at a pre-determined time interval over a period of up to two (2) years. If making a continuing request, email the LPS Access and Privacy Unit for further direction.

Personal Requests

A Personal Request is a request for records that contain your own personal information or the personal information of an individual you are legally authorized to represent.

Please note that the LPS will not release the arrest report of someone else or any other information about your family, friends or neighbours without their written and signed authorization.

Preparing a Personal Request for yourself

Use the LPS Request for Access to Information Form or provide a full written request directed to the LPS Access and Privacy Unit that includes:
- Your full name, address, and daytime telephone number and/or email address
- Any other names that you have previously used
- Your date of birth
- A clear description about the record(s) you are seeking. Make your request as specific as possible. Provide case numbers, exact dates, addresses and names, and numbers of officers involved if you have this information. Such information will assist the LPS identifying the records you are requesting and provide you with a complete response
Arrange for proof of identification by showing or photocopying one (1) valid piece of government-issued photo identification.
- Examples of photo identification (this list is not exhaustive):
  - Driver’s Licence or Identification Card
  - Passport
  - Nexus Card
  - Permanent Residence Card
  - Indian/Metis Status Card
Submit the completed package using one (1) of the following options:
- Email the LPS Access and Privacy Unit directly
- Attend the front desk at the Lethbridge Police Service (135 1st Avenue South) during business hours (Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Closed weekends and statutory holidays)
- Mail the package to:
  Access and Privacy Unit
  Lethbridge Police Service
  135 - 1 Avenue South
  Lethbridge, AB T1J 0A1
Requests are processed once forms and supporting documentation are received in good order and applicable fees are paid-in-full

Preparing a Personal Request for someone else

Use the LPS Request for Access to Information Form or provide a full written request directed to the LPS Access and Privacy Unit that includes:
- Your name, address, and daytime telephone number and/or email address
- The full name of the person for whom you are seeking information
- Any other name the person may have used on the records
- Any identifying numbers for the person, if you know them
- A clear description about the record(s) you are seeking. Make your request as specific as possible. Provide case numbers, exact dates, addresses and names, and numbers of officers involved if you have this information. Such information will assist the LPS identifying the records you are requesting and provide you with a complete response
Arrange for proof of identification by showing or photocopying one (1) valid piece of government-issued photo identification
- Examples of photo identification (this list is not exhaustive):
  - Driver’s Licence or Identification Card
  - Passport
  - Nexus Card
  - Permanent Residence Card
  - Indian/Metis Status Card
You will also need to provide proof that you have the authority to act on behalf of the person you are requesting information about
- Parents - must provide proof of parentage documentation, including any active court orders, detailed description of records sought after AND explanation of how disclosure is in best interest of the child
- Guardians/Trustees - must provide court appointment records, detailed description of records sought after AND explanation of how disclosure is related to appointed guardian/trustee duties
- Deceased Access
  - Next of Kin Requestor - must provide documentation proving relationship to deceased AND explanation for context as to why records are being requested
  - Administrator of Estate - must submit a grant of probate or letters of administration proving authority to administer the estate, detailed description of records sought after AND explanation of how disclosure is related to the administration of the estate
Submit the completed package using one (1) of the following options:
- Email the LPS Access and Privacy Unit directly
- Attend the front desk at the Lethbridge Police Service (135 1st Avenue South) during business hours (Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Closed weekends and statutory holidays)
- Mail the package to:
  Access and Privacy Unit
  Lethbridge Police Service
  135 - 1 Avenue South
  Lethbridge, AB T1J 0A1
Requests are processed once forms and supporting documentation are received in good order and applicable fees are paid-in-full

General Requests

A General Request is a request for records other than your own personal information. Requests for general information are usually topical in nature and relate to organizational operations that do not contain personal information.

An initial fee of $25 is required when submitting a General Request, and must be received before processing will begin.

Preparing a General Request

Use the LPS Request for Access to Information Form or provide a full written request directed to the LPS Access and Privacy Unit that includes:
- Your full name, address, and daytime telephone number and/or email address
- A clear description about the record(s) you are seeking. Make your request as specific as possible. Provide case numbers, exact dates, addresses and names, and numbers of officers involved if you have this information. Such information will assist the LPS identifying the records you are requesting and provide you with a complete response
Submit the completed package using one (1) of the following options:
- Attend the front desk at the Lethbridge Police Service (135 1st Avenue South) during business hours (Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Closed weekends and statutory holidays)
- Mail the package to:
  Access and Privacy Unit
  Lethbridge Police Service
  135 - 1 Avenue South
  Lethbridge, AB T1J 0A1
Requests are processed once forms and supporting documentation are received in good order and applicable fees are paid-in-full

Correction of Personal Information

If you believe there is an error or omission in a record containing your personal information held by the LPS, you may request that the LPS correct the information.

Preparing a Correction of Personal Information Request

Use the Request for Correction of Personal Information Form or send a letter outlining the correction needed to the LPS Access and Privacy Unit. Be sure you include:
- Your name, address, and daytime telephone number and/or email address
- A clear description of the corrections you want to make. What is incorrect about the information that is currently on record?
Arrange for proof of identification by showing or photocopying one (1) valid piece of government-issued photo identification
- Examples of photo identification (this list is not exhaustive):
  - Driver’s Licence or Identification Card
  - Passport
  - Nexus Card
  - Permanent Residence Card
  - Indian/Metis Status Card
If you are requesting a correction on behalf of another person, you will need to provide proof that you have the authority to act on their behalf
Submit the completed package using one (1) of the following options:
- Email the LPS Access and Privacy Unit directly
- Attend the front desk at the Lethbridge Police Service (135 1st Avenue South) during business hours (Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Closed weekends and statutory holidays)
- Mail the package to:
  Access and Privacy Unit
  Lethbridge Police Service
  135 - 1 Avenue South
  Lethbridge, AB T1J 0A1
Requests are processed once forms and supporting documentation are received in good order and applicable fees are paid-in-full

Fee Information

Fees may be charged in accordance with Schedule 2 of the FOIP Act.

All fees must be paid before a request is processed.

Fee Schedule

Personal FOIP Requests - Generally No Charge
- There is no fee for a Personal FOIP Request unless the cost of producing copies exceeds $10. In these cases, you will be notified of the fee
General FOIP Requests - $25 for the initial application
- An initial $25 application fee is required before a General FOIP Request is processed
- Additional fees may be charged pursuant to Schedule 2 of the FOIP Act. In these cases, a Fee Estimate will be provided before processing begins
- If the total cost of processing the General FOIP Request is more than $150, an initial deposit of 50% will be required
General FOIP Continuing Requests - $50 for the initial application
- An initial fee of $50 is required when requesting that the same request be processed repeatedly at pre-determined intervals over a period of up to two (2) years
- Applicants will be required to pay any additional costs as information becomes available
Production of Multimedia - $55 per media file
Note: Multimedia is subject to the LPS Routine Requests for Information procedure.
- Audio (e.g. 911 or LPS non-emergency complaint lines)
- Photobook
- Video

Costs are listed in Canadian dollars and include taxes and processing fees, when charged.

Accepted Forms of Payment

Requests made in-person
- Cash or debit
Requests made via mail
- Certified cheques or money orders made payable to "The City of Lethbridge"

Please note that personal cheques CANNOT be accepted.

Exceptions to Disclosure

The FOIP Act contains a number of exceptions to disclosure, such as:

Ongoing prosecution: These records are not within the scope of the FOIP Act and the LPS will not provide any records that relate to any criminal matter that is before the Courts at the time of the request
Third Party Personal Information: Someone else’s personal information (“third party” personal information). The LPS will not release information about your family, friends or your neighbours or anyone else without their written authorization. The LPS will neither confirm nor deny the existence of information that relates to someone else if the request is specifically for information about another person or persons
Ongoing or Unsolved Investigation: Information that could harm an ongoing or unsolved investigation, including Professional Standards investigations
Harm Others: Information that could be used to harm members of the LPS or the public
Information obtained from other agencies: For instance, if you are requesting information from Emergency Medical Services, you must make your request to the City of Lethbridge. If you are requesting information from the RCMP, your request must be made directly to the RCMP.

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive. If you have any questions, email the Access and Privacy Unit directly.

Processing Times

The FOIP Act requires LPS to respond within 30 calendar days of receiving a request. The response will either provide the requested information or explain why the information is not being disclosed.

The 30-day deadline may be extended if, for example, large volumes of records are involved or if third parties need to be consulted.

The LPS receives requests for records every day, all of which are urgent to the applicant submitting them. For this reason, we cannot speed up the disclosure process.

We will do our best to provide your records as quickly as possible.

More Information

For more information about the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and other statutes, visit the website of Alberta’s Information & Privacy Commissioner.

Contact

For further assistance, email the Access and Privacy Unit directly.

Request To Access Information