Freedom of Information

Under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), individuals can request access to any record held by government institutions, including local police services. The most common requests are general occurrence reports, arrest records, and 911 calls.

Please note: criminal record checks, occurrence confirmations, and collision reports are available without MFIPPA requests.

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Requesting Information Under MFIPPA

In-Person

Applicants can file a request in-person during business hours. (Please refer to the locations and hours of operation on the main Information Services page.)

Applicants must provide two approved forms of ID and pay the $5 application fee by cash, debit, or Visa / Mastercard.

Request forms are available online and in-person.

By Mail

Applicants can submit an MFIPPA request form to the following address:

Information & Privacy Unit
Windsor Police Service
150 Goyeau Street
P.O. Box 60
Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5

Two pieces of acceptable ID and a $5 cheque (payable to the City of Windsor) must accompany the request.

Applicable Fees

Pursuant to section 17(1)(c) and section 5.2 of the Regulation 823 of MFIPPA, a $5 application fee must accompany each request.

Additional fees may apply upon completion of the request. (Examples include $0.20 per photocopied page, $7.50 per 15 minutes of search and preparation time, and mailing costs according to Canada Post rates.)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What information can I request under MFIPPA?

MFIPPA allows individuals to access their own personal information. It does not permit access to the information of other individuals (without the individuals’ written consent).

If a request for your own records could compromise another individual’s privacy, that individual’s information would likely be severed (in accordance with MFIPPA).

If your request concerns an incident that did not involve you, and you did not speak with police during the investigation, the request will likely be denied..

Can my lawyer submit the request on my behalf?

Your lawyer may act as your personal agent and apply for access on your behalf. The same access rules apply in this case; you will not be given access to another individual’s information.

How long does it take to fulfill the request?

Requests take between 30 and 60 days to process. Requests that do not require notification to a third party will be completed within 30 days, as mandated by MFIPPA.

If a report is needed sooner, please notify Windsor Police. The Information and Privacy Unit can attempt to accommodate these requests if possible. (Records can also be subpoenaed if they are needed for court and our method of access is not practicable.)

Can someone else pick up my results when they are ready?

Yes. If we have already seen you and your identification, and you have submitted written authorization, you can authorize someone else to pick up your package. (Your written authorization must state that you are authorizing the Windsor Police Service to release your sealed FOI package to a named individual.)

Can I correct erroneous information about myself?

Yes. Under MFIPPA, individuals have the right to correct erroneous personal information. This applies only to information to which the applicant has been given access.

To request a correction, applicants must submit an access / correction request form and remit a $5 payment. 

Individuals can request:

• correction of personal information;
• a statement of disagreement be attached to the record;
• notification of correction or disagreement be sent to those to whom the individual’s personal information was disclosed in the previous year.

The Windsor Police Service decides whether the correction will be made, and the privacy coordinator will notify the applicant of the decision. (Applicants may appeal these decisions to the Information and Privacy Commissioner.)