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NSPCC Consultancy Services regularly receive enquiries about Criminal Records Bureau disclosure checks and about how to interpret the results of checks undertaken by organisations.
While we are happy to advise when possible and appropriate, it may be more helpful to contact the Criminal Records Bureau directly for detailed enquiries.
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially work that involves children or vulnerable adults.
Only those organisations that are registered with the CRB are allowed to request CRB checks.
If you are an organisation that wishes to use CRB checks as part of your recruitment, licensing or appointment processes there are a number of things that you must consider:
If the answer to these questions is 'yes', then you will need to consider whether your organisation should register with the CRB or whether you should use the services of one of CRB's Umbrella Bodies. You can search for such an organisation on the CRB website.
Please note: the NSPCC is NOT an 'Umbrella Body' and therefore cannot undertake checks on behalf of other organisations.
There are a number of benefits and reasons why you should choose to access CRB checks via an Umbrella Body. These are:
Alternatively, your organisation can register directly with the CRB. After registration and acceptance, organisations must comply with the CRB Code of Practice. The Code is designed to ensure that all disclosure information provided about candidates before their appointment is handled confidentially and fairly within the organisation.
Standard and Enhanced Disclosure requests must be kept securely and should be disposed of once decisions based on them have been made. Registered organisations must also have written policies on the recruitment of ex-offenders. This is to ensure that all disclosure information is used fairly and sensibly in order to avoid unfair discrimination.
There are two types of disclosure about an individual's background that the Criminal Records Bureau can make available on request: a Standard or an Enhanced Disclosure. This will depend on the kind of activities that the position involves.
Standard CRB Disclosure is for people entering certain professions, such as members of the legal and accountancy professions. Standard Disclosures contain convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held in England and Wales on the Police National Computer. Most of the relevant convictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland may also be included.
Standard Disclosures no longer include a check of the old or new barred lists. Therefore, if you are working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults, you may now need to have an Enhanced CRB check.
Enhanced CRB Disclosure is for posts involving work in a regulated activity for a regulated activity provider with children or vulnerable adults. In general, the type of work will involve regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of such people. Examples include a social worker, teacher, scout or guide leader. Enhanced checks are also issued for certain statutory purposes such as gaming and lottery licences.
Enhanced Disclosures contain the same information as Standard Disclosures, but in addition involve a check of the new barred lists if requested, as well as any locally held police force information considered relevant to the job role, by Chief Police Officer(s).
Portability refers to the re-use of a CRB Disclosure obtained for a position in one organisation and later used for another position in another organisation.
This practice is no longer endorsed by the CRB due to the risk factors involved. If you decide to accept a previously issued Disclosure you should carry out a formal risk assessment in order to fully understand the risks involved.
The overriding consideration must be the safety of those that you are there to protect - the children and the vulnerable.
A new Vetting and Barring Scheme has been set up to strengthen the process that prevents individuals who pose a risk from working with children. The scheme went live in October 2009, when it became a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children and/or vulnerable adults to apply for such posts, as well as employers to knowingly employ barred individuals.
For further information, see our page about the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) .
New guidance on CRB checks for volunteers (Cabinet Office, November 2008)
This page was last updated: February 2010
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Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.