Selling or owning bullet-proof vests and other types of body armour in Nova Scotia would require a permit or licence under proposed legislation.

Justice Minister Ross Landry and representatives of Halifax Regional Police and the RCMP said this afternoon that the use of body armour by criminals has increased in recent years.

Halifax Supt. Don Spicer listed several incidents in March where police encountered people with body armour.

He said that equipment increases the risk to police and the public.

“In a life-threatening situation, the presence of body armour may decrease the ability of the police to eliminate a threat, whether that threat is against an officer or a member of the public,” Spicer said at a media briefing.

RCMP Insp. Joanne Crampton said officers outside the Halifax area haven’t seen as much increase in body armour use. She said that’s likely because of a lower rate of gun violence and stabbings.

The Body Armour Control Act would allow police to seize body armour. The legislation has fines of up to $10,000 and up to three months in jail for individuals, and a fine of up to $25,000 for corporations.

Landry said people who require body armour for their jobs, such as police, corrections officers, and armoured car guards would be exempt from the legislation.

He said the legislation is similar to that in British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. B.C. is the only province where it’s in force, and it’s been less than a year.

(djackson@herald.ca)