The Airdrie RCMP work out of the Municipal Police Building. (PHOTO - Christina Waldner)

When RCMP release information about a crime to the media and the general public, they sometimes do not provide the name of the accused.

Turns out the reason is usually a procedural matter. When someone is arrested, the RCMP open a police file that includes information about the offense or offenses - the where, when, what, and who. Sometimes they are even able to include the "why", if the early investigation is able to provide that information.

However, as Cst. Rob Frizzell of the Airdrie RCMP detachment explains, police files are not part of the public record.

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Once the Justice signs off and the file becomes part of the public record, the name of the accused can be released.