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Criminal Records Bureau

Answer

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not hold criminal records or records of allegations. Rather, in processing disclosure applications, the CRB obtains information held by the police service and from lists held by the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health which contain details of individuals who are considered unsuitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. Where enhanced disclosures are made, police information may include intelligence considered relevant to the application by the chief officer of police responsible for the data.A disputes procedure exists where the accuracy of disclosed material can be challenged by the applicant. In addition, an individual may apply to the police for information to be deleted from the record. The retention or disposal of intelligence material held by the police is entirely a matter for the chief officer.Independent research shows that, of the 2.7 million checks completed in 2005, over 190,000 revealed conviction or other information on an individual. In nine out of ten cases, this information did not result in the individual being refused the position he or she sought. The majority of the convictions that resulted in the job offer being withdrawn were for theft and violence. Statistics are not held centrally on the success of applicants seeking to adopt.The CRB offers guidance to users of the service in the form of a code of practice and explanatory guide, which states that disclosure information should only be used in the context of a policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, designed to protect applicants from unfair discrimination on the basis of non-relevant past convictions. However it is ultimately for an employer to decide an applicants suitability for a particular role.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

103584; 453 c770-1W

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Vetting Criminal Records Bureau

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk