Destruction of Fingerprints / Photographs

If you were arrested, fingerprinted and charged with an offence with the Victoria Police Department which resulted in a non-conviction disposition as noted below, you can apply to have your fingerprints and photographs destroyed.

• Stay of Proceedings and 1 year has expired from the disposition date (as required by the Canadian Real Time Identification Services)
• Withdrawn
• Dismissed
• Acquitted
• Not Guilty
• Absolute Discharge and 1 year has expired from the disposition date
• Conditional Discharge and 3 years has expired from the disposition date

Your fingerprint destruction request may be denied if you have a criminal conviction on file for which you have not received a records suspension, there are mitigating circumstances such as a risk to public safety or if the applicant is part of an ongoing investigation.

All applicants will be notified in writing if the request has been approved or denied, including the reasons for denial of the request.

Fingerprint and photograph destructions do not remove the police file from the Victoria Police Department Records Management System (RMS). All investigative files are maintained in accordance with our Retention Schedule.

Application process

Applicants or their legal representatives can apply for fingerprint and photograph destructions by completing the Application for Destruction of Fingerprints and Photograph form and attaching legible photocopies of two pieces of identification, one of which must be government issued photo identification.

Submissions can be made electronically via our website or mail/drop off the completed form and ID to:

Victoria Police Department
Records – Court Unit
850 Caledonia Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
V8T 5J8

How long will it take?

The processing time for fingerprint and photograph destruction is approximately six (6) to twelve (12) weeks.

Fingerprints Taken in Other Cities

If you have been arrested, fingerprinted and charged by another police agency outside of the Victoria Police Department, you must apply directly with each police agency where you were fingerprinted and charged.

Contact us

If further information is required, please contact our Records Court Unit at 250-995-7242.