Posted by Gareth
Criminal Records Checks | CRB Checks
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.
