What is the CRB?

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), an Executive Agency of the Home Office, provides wider access to criminal record information through its Disclosure service. This service 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 that involve children or vulnerable adults. The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002.

What is the CRB Service?

There are two levels of CRB check currently available called Standard and Enhanced check which are available where an employer is entitled to ask exempted questions under the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. This includes any organisation whose staff or volunteers work with children or vulnerable adults.

They are issued free to volunteers who are defined as a person who is engaged in any activity which involves spending time unpaid (except for travelling and other out-of-pocket expenses) doing something which aims to benefit some third party other than or in addition to a close relative

Standard Check

Standard checks can be applied for by people entering certain professions, such as members of the legal and accountancy professions and applying for specified licences. A Standard check contains:

• details of all convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer (PNC)

A Standard check cannot reveal if a person is ISA- registered or barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Enhanced Check

This is the highest level of check available to anyone involved in regulated activity for a regulated activity provider working with children or vulnerable adults. It is also available in certain licensing purposes and judicial appointments.

Enhanced checks contain the same information as the Standard check but also inlcudes a check of the new barred lists and any relevant and proportionate information held by the local police forces.

The CRB recognises that the Standard and Enhanced certificate information can be extremely sensitive and personal, therefore it has published a Code of Practice and employers’ guidance for recipients of certificates to ensure they are handled fairly and used properly.

A copy of the Standard or Enhanced certificate will be sent out to the applicant as well as the Registered Body.