Effective today, March 14, the York Regional Police’s community resource centre in Richmond Hill will be shut down as a precautionary measure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the emerging coronavirus, York police said today in a statement.
The collision reporting unit that is also located at the same 10720 Yonge St. location, will remain open for drivers to report collisions that occured in the municipalities of Newmarket, Aurora, King, Markham, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill.
York police advise that visitors to the collision reporting centre will be screened for COVID-19 and that wait times could be longer than normal.
“Anyone contacting police for assistance can expect to be asked additional screening questions to limit the potential for spreading illness,” York police say. “There will be no changes to police response in an emergency.”
The services that will no longer be handled in person by York police’s customer service officers include police criminal record, information, and vulnerable sector checks, proof of loss police reports, incident summaries, pardon applications, and real-time identification fingerprinting for pardons, adoptions, Canadian citizenship, visa or border crossing, and FBI cards.
“York Regional Police continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and will continue to follow the direction from the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Region of York Public Health Unit,” the statement said. “The risk in York Region remains low. York Regional Police is employing a phased approach in its response and will continue to make adjustments based on the circumstances.”
Police background checks can be submitted online here. These requests will continue to be processed, but York police say processing times may increase.
For those requiring fingerprints, you are asked to file a request online and a York police customer service representative will reach out to schedule fingerprinting options.
Citizens are encouraged to file non-emergency reports online at Report It.
The York police's community resource centre hours were Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7700 or visit online here for more information.
