The Halifax Regional Police has deployed its armoured rescue vehicle (ARV) nearly three dozen times in a year, mainly for situations involving high-risk search warrants. An information report submitted to the Board of Police Commissioners said police used the ARV 35 times from June 2025 to June 2026. No other police agencies have requested to use the ARV in that time. Halifax Regional Council approved the purchase of the ARV as part of the 2025-2026 capital budget after initially voting it down in 2020 amid public criticism. Last year, Halifax police noted they were increasingly being called to provide support for active shooter incidents and hostage rescue operations. “In 2023, the HRP Emergency Response Team (ERT) responded to 150 events in an official capacity, 55 which were deemed critical incidents, and 46 firearms were recovered in operations conducted by the ERT,” a January 2025 motion reads. “The type of firearms ranged from pistols to high-powered assault style rifles. “These types of events present a high-risk of injury, including the risk of fatalities, to officers and the public. An ARV is a means of mitigating the risk of personal injury to officers and the public in these types of high-risk scenarios.” That motion noted Halifax police relied on the RCMP’s ARV, which was reportedly unavailable for use an average of 33 per cent on the time in 2024. The company Cambli Group Inc. was awarded the tender for the ARV in June 2025. Halifax police received a temporary ARV and they are expected to take possession of a permanent one this fall once its upgrades are complete. According to the information report, police used the ARV for 24 high-risk search warrants between June 2025 and June 2026. They used it eight times for stagings near large public gatherings, twice for barricaded people and once for a weapons call. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
