The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is soon to be launching a new online status checking service for employers.  The service will be used to vet potential employees and verify that they have CRB clearance for certain jobs.  Part of the CRB process requires people to request a new certificate when applying for a new job, but the online system will save them from this process and make checks easier for employers.  CRB checks are in place to validate those working with vulnerable people and are required for anybody working with children, disabled people, and other similar roles.    

Lynne Featherstone, the criminal information minister, announced the new system amongst other new measures.  These measures are to be introduced following a review carried out by the Government’s independent advisor Sunita Mason.  In a statement made to Parliament, Featherstone said that the introduction of the online service would reduce the amount of paperwork and bureaucracy in many CRB processes.  

Featherstone said "We have included a provision to make the CRB process less burdensome on all concerned by introducing a new, online status checking capability that will in effect mean individuals can re-use their certificates for different employers across the same workforce and so will no longer need to apply for a new certificate every time they want to take up a new role," she said. "This will have a positive impact on business, making it significantly easier for employers to take on staff in relevant sectors."

A Home Office spokesman was unable at this time to offer any further information about the way the system would work.

Other features of the Protection of Freedoms bill are listed below:

• Ensuring that only accurate and relevant personal data will ever be disclosed by the police.
• Applicants will have the opportunity to review their personal data and if necessary, dispute any information held about them by the police before it is disclosed to a potential employer
• Significantly reducing the range of ‘regulated activity’ from which people could be barred.

The Government did not accept Mason’s request for a significant reduction in the number of individuals eligible for checks.

An announcement has also been made by the Home Office stating that the Government will continue to maintain the current agreements for holding criminal records on the police national computer.  They would also ensure that sufficiently strong controls were in place for accessing these records.

CBS expect to receive further information regarding processes and the practical effects it will bring to those who access the CRB Disclosure Service.  As always, CBS provide first line customer support to all clients regarding regulatory and legislative advice and would be pleased to discuss this in greater detail on request.

The Glamorgan Business School hosted a Freshers Welcome event for all new business students starting their studies for the first time at the University.  With many new students having mixed emotions about leaving home, the welcome event was put in place to help new starters feel confident and comfortable with their new surroundings. The event also provided students with the opportunity to meet other new students and academic staff in an informal setting.

Held in the Students’ Union, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Society, Monica Gibson-Sweet began the event by greeting new students. This initial welcome was followed by the presentation of two scholarships as part of the Business Opportunities Scholarships Scheme.  This unique scheme was provided by two local businesses Complete Background Screening (CBS) and Big Country Adventures Ltd to help provide financial support towards the cost of tuition fees.

The Scheme, known as the BOSS Scheme is an innovative approach to creating the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow for applicants applying to undergraduate courses at the Glamorgan Business School. Led by Pontypridd-based company Complete Background Screening (CBS), the scholarship scheme offers a unique package of financial support and mentoring for aspiring business students.

Eligible to undergraduate applicants, the scheme awards scholarships to applicants who can demonstrate a unique flair for business as well as a passion for the subject.

The applicants were required to submit an essay on ' Why I deserve the BOSS scholarship ’ in no more than 500 words. The winning applicant, Laura Haighway, was awarded £1000 by Rachel Bedgood, Director of CBS to help with the cost of her studies. In addition the runner-up, Christopher Kane was presented with a further cheque of £500 funded by Big Country Motocross Ltd. 

Dean of the Faculty of Business and Society, Monica Gibson-Sweet commented: “We greatly appreciate the ongoing support that Rachel Bedgood has provided in establishing the Business Opportunities and Scholarship Scheme (BOSS) which has provided two of our first year students with an extremely valuable financial contribution to their university studies. It would be fantastic if more companies would come forward to support these scheme and help more students to achieve their dreams of a university education”

Rachel Bedgood added: “I am extremely pleased to be part of such a worthwhile and valuable scheme.  We welcome and commend any individuals who are committed to contributing and development business in our area. CBS provide services of pre-employment screening and CRB checks to small local companies through to multi-national blue-chip organisations.  Our continued growth and success is down to simple fundamental methods, one of which is due to our office base in Ynysybwl, Pontypridd -  keeping our overheads low and providing a vital service to the UK and overseas market.  I would like to wish the winning students the very best for the future and look forward to their growth and development within this sometimes tough industry.  Their contribution to our currently struggling economy is certainly welcomed. ”

Following the recent customer feedback from our clients, we would like to thank you very much for taking the time to complete our recent survey.  We have processed all of the data received and are extremely pleased with the results received. Addressing any issues raised by our clients and providing excellent customer service is paramount to the success of our organisation.

The results of survey were as follows:

100%   Agree CBS Staff are friendly and helpful

98%    Agree CBS Provide excellent customer service

97%    Agree CBS provide an invaluable service to their business

99%    Would recommend the services to CBS

42%    Requested further information regarding the additional services CBS provide.

Any organisations wishing to receive further information regarding the services provided by our organisation please email rachelb@cbscreening.com or contact our office on 01443 799900.

12%    Suggested ways for CBS to improve their current services.

CBS have written to all clients who provided feedback regarding suggestions for CBS to improve services and would like to address the most commonly raised points:


Point 1:    Additional support for first time users of the system

In relation to this point CBS are currently addressing the guidelines documents issued at the point of registration and also liaising with our IT Department in order to introduce help buttons on the online system.  Additionally, we would like to reiterate our commitment to first line customer support and would encourage all clients to contact us via telephone where we would be pleased to walk you through the process and provide any required guidance.


Point 2:    Employer to receive hard copies of criminal certificates

As an ebulk provider, meaning we can process CRB applications on line approved by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, we are able to provide huge benefits to processing and completion times of CRB Disclosures as well as removing the margin for human error and avoiding any applications to be returned from the CRB.  As the process is entirely electronic, the CRB do not return hard copy certificates for criminal disclosures where no information is required to be disclosed.  In every instance the individual will receive a copy sent to their home address, however, only if the status reads in ‘in post’ will the employer receive a copy.  ‘No match’ means the CRB have no information to disclose and the CRB check is clear.  ‘In post’ means there is information the CRB would like to advise the employer which can not be transmitted electronically due to a risk of security, therefore a hard copy will follow in the post.  Any organisations who believe receiving a hard copy certificate is critical to their processes may wish to opt for previous paper-based methods of processing which we of course happy to provide.


Point 3:    Cost of CRB processing

Please be advised the fees to access the CRB and DS Disclosure service are set by the Criminal Records Bureau and Disclosure Scotland respectively and are out of the control of CBS.  However, CBS are conscious of the financial commitment many organisations have to make in order to comply with regulations and legislation and acknowledge the processes can often become expensive when undertaking high volumes of criminal checks.  Therefore, CBS are committed to the consideration of reductions in administrations costs to long standing customers who submit volume applications.  If you would like to apply for a reduction in administration costs please contact Rachel Bedgood via email who will be able to consider your circumstances and authorise any changes to your account (rachelb@cbscreening.com).



CBS strive to achieve outstanding services to all clients by implementing online, streamlined processes and first line customer support, we were pleased to receive the following comments from some of our clients:

~ Thank you for your continued support and business we look forward to working with you in the future ~

In a recent bulletin from the Home Office on the Protection of Freedoms Bill, an update was given on the changes to the Vetting & Barring Scheme and to criminal records checks.

On 11th February 2011, the Protection of Freedoms Bill was introduced into the House of Commons and it is currently being reviewed by a number of consultants as it moves towards 'Report Stage'.

The Bill offers changes to the Vetting and Barring Scheme and criminal records checks, including:

- scrapping registration and continuous monitoring
- scrapping controlled activities
- enabling those with convictions for consensual sexual relations between men aged 16 or over (which have since been decriminalised) to apply to have them disregarded

The last bullet point is proposed for England & Wales only, though the criminal records check changes and ISA safeguarding changes will for the most part be mirrored in Northern Ireland.

Other issues were discussed at a recent reading of the Bill, including barring information not being provided on certificates for persons not engaged in regulated activity, and checks on those under 16 years of age in England & Wales.

Discussing 'regulated activity', the bulletin highlighted “The Government does not consider that it is proportionate to require or allow barred list checks on activities that are currently in regulated activity but will not be within the revised scheme, for example, supervised volunteers in schools or activities which entail incidental contact with children or vulnerable adults or work that is ancillary to, or supports others, for example, a hospital cleaner or a caterer within a Further Education college."

On the subject of those under 16 years of age, the bulleting states “this proposal responds to criticism of checking and providing certificates for those aged 15 and under. By no longer issuing certificates, there will be a more proportionate approach to this age group."

The Government has agreed to a number of changes to the original Protection of Freedoms Bill, including:

- The merging of the Criminal Records Bureau and the ISA. This new organisation will be called the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
- Extending regulated activity to those working with 16 / 17 year olds
- The police and/or the Prison and Probation Service will have access to barring information if they need it
- In England & Wales, changes will be made to disputes procedures. Where non-conviction information is contained on an enhanced CRB check, an independent element can be brought in to make the final decision on whether such information should be disclosed.  The Independent Monitor from the Criminal Records Bureau will review the information, seek a view from the police and then make the decision.

These changes will not be finalised until the Protection of Freedoms Bill receives Royal Assent. Once this has been granted, the Government will notify us when the agreed changes will take effect. The final Bill is expected in Spring 2012.

If you need any advice regarding criminal records checks and the changing legislation, please call us on 01443 799 900.