What to Do when Your Employer Asks for a Police Check

You have been asked to provide a police check for your new job. How do you go about doing this?

Firstly, it is a matter of procedure to be asked for a police check if you are going to be holding certain jobs. You can expect to be asked for a police check if you are working with children in any capacity (from one week at summer camp to teacher's college to daycare supervisor). You will also be asked for a police check if you are working in a sensitive environment: certain churches require police checks of people who wish to be ordained. Some high security jobs, such as investment banker or lawyer, will also require police checks.

Depending on the position to which you are applying, you might need to pay for your own police check. Often, if you are doing volunteer work, the police will waive the fee. If you are volunteering, be sure to bring a letter from the institution at which you are volunteering that states that you need a police check and that you are volunteering. This letter should be on letterhead if possible.

When you go for your police check, bring certain things with you to facilitate the process. You will need current photo ID, such as a license, some health care cards, or a passport. You will also need a secondary piece of ID, such as a social insurance number or social security number card. Bring a list of your past addresses for the last five year, including postal or zip codes.

If you live in a city, go to the city police department to get your police check. If you live in the country, you will probably need to go to the local provincial or state police department to have your police check done. If you are unsure what jurisdiction you fall under, call the police department to ask. Finding out this information might save you an unnecessary trip.

You will have to fill out some forms for your police check, and sign that you want your police check completed. In some areas, you will have to sign a special waiver for your police check: this waiver gives the police the right to check the registered sexual offender's database. This is a required component of most police checks, particularly if you are going to be working with children.

Depending on your area, it might take a while to get your police check completed. The time varies between one week and three months, depending on how busy the station is currently. Be sure to go to the police department as soon as you know that you need to get a police check so that you will have enough time to get the paperwork completed. Some jobs will not allow to begin working until you have this crucial step completed, so it is better to start early.

You can choose to have your police check mailed to you or directly to your employer. You might also be asked to pick it up at the station again. It is wisest not to have your police check mailed directly to your employer. This way, you have the opportunity to photocopy your police check. Keep the original copy and give your employer a photocopy. You might be asked to procure your police check at a later date, and you never know what could get lost in the shuffle of filing.