TIMMINS - Cell phone records and IP addresses are the top requests by police in missing persons cases.
The Timmins Police Service is required by the Missing Persons Act 2018 to report on the investigations of missing people cases each year. The 2024 report was talked about at today’s (March 13) police services board meeting. It includes 36 urgent demands for records in 22 separate investigations.
In 2024, 27 of the 36 requests were for cell phone records and IP addresses.
“That’s phone locations, financial records, whatever the case may be,” said Deputy Chief Darren Dinel. “Where something would usually need a judicial authorization, police officers can make an urgent demand because of the safety involved in locating a missing person.”
In 2023, police made 24 urgent requests in 21 missing persons cases. In all, 19 of those requests were for cell phone information.
The police service completes a form and submits it to the Ministry of the Solicitor General by April each year.
According to the Missing Persons Act, the full report must be published on the Timmins Police website by June 1, 2025.
