Connect and stay informed through Halifax Regional Police's official social media channels.
These social media channels have been created to provide a forum for you to communicate and engage with each other and Halifax Regional Police about programs, services and initiatives.
Review the social media terms of use and start connecting!
- Chief Don MacLean, Chief of Halifax Regional Police
YouTube
Halifax Regional Police social media terms of use
By posting or commenting on any social media platform used by Halifax Regional Police, you participate by your own choice, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username, and any information you provide therein. You further agree to the following terms of use:
Halifax Regional Police maintains a social media program for the purpose of engaging and interacting with the community, providing relevant and timely community news, information and events, distribution of crime prevention and public safety tips, for urgent notifications of critical incidents which may affect residents, business owners and visitors of Halifax, and for those people who have an interest in Halifax Regional Police.
Limited public forum
All social media platforms used by Halifax Regional Police are designated as limited public forums. Halifax Regional Police welcomes a person’s right to express their opinion and encourages posters to keep comments relevant to the topic in question. Posting of any content on any social media platform used by Halifax Regional Police constitutes acceptance of the terms of use described here in this policy.
For purposes of this policy, a social media platform is the website or app offered to the public to provide audio, video, still photo, or written communication between other members of the public and/or representatives of certain groups, businesses, organizations, or departments.
The definition of content as used in this policy refers to any written copy, photos, graphics, videos, live video streams, comments, or any form of communicative content exchanged between parties.
Emergency or non-emergency requests for police assistance
The posting of requests for police assistance, regardless if it is of an emergency or non-emergency nature, is discouraged and will not guarantee a response by Halifax Regional Police or any emergency service provider. In case of an emergency, or if police assistance is needed, dial 911. If you wish to report a crime that is not an emergency, but requires police to be dispatched, call 902.490.5020. To file a report that doesn't require an officer to come to the scene, call 902-490-5016. You can also file a report through the Halifax Regional Police online reporting system.
In the event you post information related to a crime, you may be placing yourself in a position of becoming a witness and subject to being subpoenaed into court.
Endorsements
“Friending” or “Liking” by Halifax Regional Police, or an officer or employee of Halifax Regional Police, does not indicate an endorsement of that person’s actions or comments.
A comment posted by a member of the public on any Halifax Regional Police social media site is the opinion of the commentator or poster only, and publication of a comment does not imply endorsement of, or agreement by, Halifax Regional Police, nor do such comments necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Halifax Regional Police.
Moderation of content
Halifax Regional Police social media platforms are intended to be family friendly. When applicable, Halifax Regional Police uses platform-provided content moderation/filtering options to limit foul or obscene content. Halifax Regional Police actively monitors the social media platforms used by the department, and will remove inappropriate content as defined below, without prior notice, and as soon as possible. The department shall reserve the right to remove and/or block anyone who posts inappropriate material as determined by the department. This material may include, but is not limited to:
- Comments not related to the original topic, including random or unintelligible comments.
- Profane, obscene, or pornographic content and/or language.
- Content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, colour, age, religion, gender, or national origin.
- Defamatory or personal attacks.
- Serious, unproven, or inaccurate accusations against individuals or organizations.
- Threats to any person or organization.
- Comments in support of, or in opposition to, any political campaigns or ballot measures.
- Solicitation of commerce, including but not limited to advertising of any business or product for sale.
- Conduct in violation of any federal, provincial or local law.
- Encouragement of illegal activity.
- Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems.
- Content that violates a legal ownership interest, such as a copyright, of any party.
- Harassment or content which constitutes and/or facilitates stalking.
- Content which violates the right to privacy.
- Encouragement of violence.
- Repetitive content.
- Comments which may reasonably interfere with, inhibit, or compromise law enforcement investigations, police tactics, police responses to incidents and/or the safety of police staff and officers.
- Posts or comments that contain any external links.
The department does not allow posting of photos or videos by anyone other than members of the department. Citizens can send photos and/or videos to hrppublicrelations@halifax.ca.
Posting complaints about Halifax Regional Police officers
Though only the Halifax Regional Police Professional Standards Office can accept and action formal complaints under the Police Act, the Halifax Regional Police Public Relations Unit, which is responsible for monitoring Halifax Regional Police social media accounts, can attempt to collect the commenter’s contact info and details of the incident (date/time/location) and pass the written complaint or photo/video on to the appropriate watch commander/supervisor. Though a formal complaint would not be lodged, the officer would be identified and spoken to about the allegation. That said, if specific officers’ names are mentioned in a post, the post will be removed because the allegation is unproven at that point and could be considered defamatory. You are welcome to repost without including the officers’ name.
Of course, you would still have the option to file a formal complaint by contacting Professional Standards by phone at 902-490-4127 or email at hrpprofstand@halifax.ca.
Denial of access
Halifax Regional Police reserves the right to deny access to any Halifax Regional Police social media sites for any individual who violates the Halifax Regional Police social media terms of use, at any time and without prior notice.
Facebook's Community Standards
All comments posted to any Halifax Regional Police Facebook site are bound by Facebook’s Community Standards and Halifax Regional Police reserves the right to report any violation of Facebook’s Community Standards to Facebook with the intent of Facebook taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action.
The Twitter Rules
When applicable, Halifax Regional Police reserves the right to report any violation of the Twitter Rules with the intent of Twitter taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action.
YouTube Community Guidelines
When applicable, Halifax Regional Police reserves the right to report any violation of the YouTube Community Guidelines with the intent of YouTube taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action.
Questions
If you have questions about any items contained in these terms of use, please contact the Halifax Regional Police's Corporate Affairs Division at hrppublicrelations@halifax.ca.