HALIFAX -- If you want to avoid the embarrassment of an arrest in front of family and friends, then Halifax police have a unique solution for you.
The police force plans to hold its first-ever voluntary surrender day April 29 at the Dartmouth North Community Centre.
Insp. Don Moser said the force believes it is the first in Canada to try out a concept that has been used in U.S. jurisdictions such as New Jersey.
"We were unable to come up with a Canadian equivalent," said Moser.
He said the strategic goal of the program is to reduce the number of outstanding warrants for non-violent offences held by Halifax police.
There are currently 684 on file.
Those who take police up on their offer will be asked to present identification and will have their fingerprints and photo taken, and will likely have their warrants replaced with a court date. They will also have the opportunity to contact legal aid, which will be available for telephone consultation.
Referral information will also be made available for various community support services.
"What we are offering is an opportunity for a person to come in proactively . . . in a neutral environment and have the matter resolved," said Moser. "We're targeting primarily non-violent offenders -- more towards the lower end of the scale as far as criminal offences."
Moser said the idea is to have people turn up in "as positive a manner as possible."
"The ability to resolve that in a positive way and move on with your life, that's really we're hoping will be the absolute benefit for folks that choose to participate."
Moser stressed that voluntary surrender is not an amnesty program and that people would still have to appear in court at a later date to answer to pending charges.
