Missing Persons Act gives police more access to information

Police in Nova Scotia can now apply for access to a missing person's private information such as text messages, bank records and computer history, with the aim of unearthing crucial information that could help solve the case.

The Missing Persons Act was proclaimed Wednesday, creating a judicial authorization process similar to the one used by police to apply for a search warrant in criminal cases.

More than 1,000 missing persons cases are reported to police a year, the province says. Previously, police did not have authority to get information from service providers such as telephone companies.

The issue came to a head last fall during the search for James Cuthbert. Police faced delays accessing the 71-year-old's cell phone records after he disappeared Oct. 26. Bell Mobility finally turned over the records with his wife's permission.

Investigators later determined Cuthbert went overboard during ferry ride from North Sydney, N.S., to Port aux Basques, N.L., not long after he went missing.

Justice Minister Lena Diab said in a news release Wednesday that enabling greater access to more information will sometimes be crucial in helping police find missing people.

The Missing Persons Act was passed in December 2012, but justice lawyers had been working since then on regulations to support the law.

The legislation means police will be able to apply for access to a wide range of information in their search for a missing person, including phone records, GPS data and health records.

Any information will remain confidential and cannot be shared with family members or spouses.