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Reporting minor crimes just got easier and faster with the launch of an enhanced online reporting system for citizens policed by Halifax Regional Police and Halifax District RCMP.
Online Incident Reporting, implemented by Halifax Regional Police in 2011, has been replaced with a new system powered by Coplogic’s DeskOfficer Online Reporting software. It streamlines the process for filing an online report, as a result, it reduces the amount of time it takes for a citizen to receive an official copy of their report and allows our customer service employees to work more efficiently and provide a higher level of service to our citizens.
The improvements aren’t that obvious on the front end; the reporting procedure is basically the same but you’ll experience cleaner forms that are easier to fill out. We’ve also added a filtering screen to help you determine if your incident meets the criteria for online reporting.
The more substantial improvements are behind the scenes. The new system:
Directly interfaces with our records management system, eliminating the need to re-input data received online into our system. Generates and sends notification emails. Creates a professional-looking PDF copy of the report that is emailed to you. Online reporting is still the best and most convenient option for you to report the following incidents:
You’ve lost something. Someone has stolen something from you. Someone has vandalized your property or your car. Someone has broken into your car. Reporting these incidents online means you don’t have to wait for a call taker to answer your call, and you can submit a report at your convenience in the privacy of your home or business. You need a valid email address and only the person involved in the incident, a family member of the victim, the property owner or authorized agent of the property owner can file a report. The incident must have occurred within the Halifax Regional Municipality to be eligible for Online Crime Reporting.
Using Online Crime Reporting is easy. Visit /Police/OnlineCrimeReporting/OnlineCrimeReporting.php to start the process. Remember to have basic personal and contact information handy, as well as particulars such as the approximate date, time and location of the offence. If personal property is involved, details such as serial numbers and approximate value will also be helpful.
Although most of these incidents will have low solvability factors, it’s still important for police to know about them. This information will help us to identify trends and better deploy our resources to prevent crime and keep our community safe.