CRB checks - the law is changing

Criminal Record Checks through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)

Despite the new access to Criminal Record Checks, currently there is a shortage of umbrella organisations willing to take on the role of carrying out checks for voluntary and community groups.

These organisations will do checks for local groups:

Young Bristol

There is an initial charge of £25 to register that includes your first three police checks free of charge.  After that, they charge £7 for each subsequent volunteer.  Checks for paid staff cost £29.For an information pack call  0117 953 7921 or email info@youngbristol.com.
You will need to adopt relevant policies relating to the disclosure of confidential information.

North Somerset Youth and Community Service

offer a limited service including a free CRB check for any volunteer in a NSC run youth group, one volunteer (lead person) in a community group grant-aided by NSC, or an employee when the project is financed by a service-level agreement from NSC.

There is useful information on the CRB websites  www.crb.gov.uk and www.disclosure.gov.uk including guidance on the limitations of police checks and guidelines on the need for organisations to ensure the confidentiality of disclosure information once they have received it.

Criminal record checks are, at best, only part of the picture when it comes to protecting vulnerable people and children. The protection they offer is quite limited. Groups need to develop a full child/vulnerable adult’s protection policy.

Vetting and Barring change of policy announcement on the CRB website June 2010