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5. What is a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check? Do I need one?

A Vulnerable Sector Check is completed when required by the Requesting Agency because you will be responsible for the well-being of children, the elderly, people with disabilities or other vulnerable populations. It is the Police Service that verifies that the position meets the requirements for a Vulnerable Sector Check.

A Vulnerable Sector Check is required when you will be in a position of trust or authority of vulnerable persons including children, the elderly and people with disabilities. A Vulnerable Sector Check involves a search of the automated criminal records (pardoned sex offender) retrieval system maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to identify the existence of sex offences for which a record suspension or pardon exists.

A Vulnerable Sector Check also includes a search of local police records to determine if any patterns of behavior exist that may result in harm to a vulnerable person.

The Edmonton Police Service can only provide Vulnerable Sector Police Information Checks for approved jurisdictions. 

If an applicant resides outside of approved jurisdictions, they must obtain a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check from their local RCMP detachment. 

Vulnerable Sector Police Information Checks can only be completed for positions within Canada.

Please be advised that a Police Information Check requiring a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check can only be provided by a police service.

Applicants requiring a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check may be required to be fingerprinted if they have a similar surname or is of the same gender and approximately the same age as a pardoned sex offender. An applicant receiving a letter indicating that fingerprinting is required to complete a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check simply means that fingerprints are required to positively confirm that the applicant is not a pardoned sex offender. This process is required to ensure that vulnerable persons are never placed at risk by those responsible for their well-being.

Proof of residency is required for applicants requiring a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check. Documentation must be provided showing that the applicant resides in Edmonton or one of the RCMP jurisdictions listed above. This can be a current driver’s licence or a recent utility, electricity, gas or telephone bill, bank statement, property rental agreement, insurance policy documents (life, auto, residential, etc.). These documents must be dated within the last 90 days.

Important: If an applicant has been fingerprinted by the EPS after July 31, 2010,  and is not a pardoned sex offender, fingerprinting will not be required in the future, provided that the applicant's criminal history has not changed or it has not been longer than 4 years since the date of their last Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check.

Understanding a Vulnerable Sector Check