The CRB helps employers in England and Wales make safer recruitment decisions through the provision of criminal record information through its Disclosure service. It operates in accordance with Part V of the Police Act 1997. This service is transparent to its users. The individual and employer both receive a copy of the disclosure.
In Scotland the Disclosure service is provided by Disclosure Scotland and in Northern Ireland by Access Northern Ireland.
What is the Disclosure Service?
The Disclosure service provides organisations with access to the following:
- information about convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings retained on the Police National Computer (PNC) and the equivalent Scottish and Northern Ireland.systems
- information held in local police records that is considered relevant to the post being applied for by the police;
- information from the Government's Protection of Children Act List (POCA);
- information from the Government's Protection of Vulnerable Adults List (POVA);
- information held by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002.
How many types of check are provided by the Criminal Records Bureau?
The CRB currently provides two types of Disclosure check:-
- Standard disclosures are primarily issued to enable persons to assess the suitability of individuals for posts that involve working with children or vulnerable adults to which the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 applies. They may also be issued for people entering professions such as the legal and accountancy professions and for statutory licensing functions such as the security industry.
- Enhanced disclosures are issued for the purpose of assessing suitability for the type of job that will involve regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. Examples include those wishing to be teachers, Scout or Guide leaders. In certain sectors, there is a statutory requirement to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure such as providing health services and gaming and lottery licences.
Additionally if a post involves working with children or vulnerable adults information retained on POCA, POVA and List 99 will also be included on both types of checks.
What is Basic Disclosure?
A Basic Disclosure shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions. This service is provided in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will be making a commitment in its Corporate Plan 2009-10 to research how it can implement a Basic Disclosure Service.
Are all jobs or voluntary positions subject to CRB checks?
No. To be eligible for a Standard or Enhanced Disclosure a paid or voluntary position must be an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All such positions are of a sensitive nature and often involve working closely with children or vulnerable adults.
Why might I be asked to apply for disclosure?
You may be asked to apply for a Disclosure if you work or intend to work:
- with children or vulnerable adults;
- in healthcare;
- have applied to be a foster carer, adoptive parent or childminder.
- A Disclosure is also required for a range of other jobs and licensing purposes including taxi drivers, some financial posts and the security industry.
Can I refuse to apply for disclosure?
Yes. Organisations can only apply for a Disclosure with your consent. However, there are some jobs for which a Disclosure is required by law. If you refuse to apply for a Disclosure in this instance, the organisation would be within their rights not to take your job or licence application any further.
Will I be refused a job if I have a criminal record?
Not necessarily. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) requires all organisations that use its Disclosure service to treat all Disclosure applicants fairly and not discriminate against those who may have a criminal record. This is a requirement of the Code of Practice which all organisations that register with the CRB must ahere to. However if an individual has committed a crime such as those of a sexual or violent nature this may make that person unsuitable to work with the children or vulnerable adults. However, you must declare the fact that you have had a caution, conviction reprimand or warning no matter how far back this might be.
Is the CRB involved in deciding who should be employed?
No. It is up to the employer to decide, after full pre-employment checks and on the basis of all the information available to them, whether an individual is suitable for a particular position.
Who will see the information revealed through the Disclosure service?
A copy of the Disclosure is issued to both the employer and the person to whom the Disclosure relates.
How do I know that the information will remain confidential?
Organisations using the Disclosure service must comply with the CRB Code of Practice, which is there to make sure the whole process works fairly and that any information revealed is treated fairly and securely.
What criminal record information is contained on a Disclosure?
CRB Standard and Enhanced disclosures contain information about convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings retained on the Police National Computer (PNC) and the equivalent Scottish and Northern Ireland systems.
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) does not apply to certain jobs such as those involving access to children or vulnerable adults and other sensitive positions. The full list of exceptions is contained within the Exceptions Order to this Act.
In addition Enhanced Disclosures contain information held in local police records that the police consider is relevant to the post or position being applied for. This could include information about Penalty Notices for Disorder and non conviction information, if in the opinion of the Chief Officer it is considered to be relevant to the post or position applied for.
How long is a Disclosure valid?
Each Disclosure will show the date on which it was printed. Disclosures do not carry a pre-determined period of validity because a conviction or other matter could be recorded against the subject of the Disclosure at any time after it is issued.
How long will my record be retained for?
Information relating to convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings for recordable offences is retained on the Police National Computer (PNC). In accordance with the ACPO Retention Guidelines such information is retained for 100 years. After this time the police will delete the record.
What if I believe incorrect information is recorded on my criminal record?
The CRB has a disputes process which enables a person to challenge the accuracy or relevance of any information contained on his/her Disclosure.
You are also free to write to the Chief Constable of the police force concerned requesting that the information be amended or deleted. However, it is entirely up to the Chief Constable to decide whether the circumstances are exceptional enough to warrant an amendment or deletion. The CRB does not play any part in such decisions and nor do Ministers.
Where can I obtain further information?
If you would like more information about the CRB or the Disclosure service why not visit the Criminal Records Bureau website at or call on 0870-9090811. Telephone calls are charged at national rate. Calls will be recorded for security and may be monitored for training purposes.