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Requests for information regarding police (and other) investigations

Circular Note No. XDC-2109 of December 13, 2012

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Office of Protocol) presents its compliments to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and notified Chargés d’affaires, a.i. accredited to Canada, the Permanent Representatives to the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Heads of International Organizations and other offices established in Canada, and has the honour to address the continued practice of submitting requests for information regarding criminal or immigration matters involving foreign nationals through the Office of Protocol.^{Footnote 1}

The Department wishes to inform Their Excellencies that it continues to receive a high volume of requests to provide information of this kind. As the Department does not have the capacity to fulfill such inquiries, Their Excellencies are advised that all requests for information regarding foreign nationals connected with a criminal investigation should be submitted through the Interpol network.

The Department further informs Their Excellencies that requests to locate missing persons should be directed by the complainant to that person’s local police service for onward transmission to Interpol. It should also be noted that requests for information regarding an individual’s immigration status or residency status in Canada cannot be honoured by the Department for privacy reasons.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Office of Protocol) avails itself of this opportunity to renew to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and notified Chargés d’affaires, a.i. accredited to Canada, the Permanent Representatives to the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Heads of International Organizations and other offices established in Canada, the assurances of its highest consideration.

OTTAWA, December 13, 2012