When applying for certain roles, a DBS check is required to make sure you are suitable for the position you are applying for, or you are hiring the best suited candidate for the position.
We take a deep dive into the history of DBS checks and why they remain an important pillar in keeping the community safe.
What are they?
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), makes safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates that may be unsuitable or pose risks in certain jobs, especially in roles where they may work with children or vulnerable adults.
The service is an extension of the home office and provides wider access to criminal records through its disclosure service.
Where it began
In 2002, the Government introduced mandatory criminal record checks for all people working with children. This was done through the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) and was brought in with the Protection of Children Act (1999) to prevent child predators from securing roles near children.
Alongside this ran the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), created by the Labour government, which aimed to regulate in areas where people worked with children or vulnerable adults.
Lists were created that contained the details of individuals that had been banned from working with children and vulnerable adults due to a criminal background, or those who displayed predatory, abusive or violent behaviour.
In 2012 the two services merged to form the Disclosure and Barring Service.
A radical change to safeguarding
The merger streamlined the background check process by making it more efficient and thorough. It made it easier for employers to select candidates that were most suitable for the roles they were hiring and prevented children and vulnerable adults from being put at risk by potential predators.
This was a revolutionary step into safeguarding and demonstrated the importance of collaboration.
What it looks like in 2024
Today, DBS checks can be obtained, when legally allowed to do so, for those over the age of 16. This can be done individually or through organisations, not only for teaching and medical roles, but also for services like fostering, food delivery, and transport industries.
Through the service there are different levels of checks that can be carried out:
- Basic DBS Checks – this is the lowest screening. It looks for previous unspent criminal convictions and conditional cautions and is used in many different industries
- Standard DBS Checks – in addition to unspent criminal convictions and cautions, this check also investigates a person’s spent convictions, reprimands and warnings
- Enhanced DBS Checks – these include all the above checks as well as any relevant information provided by the local police. As part of an enhanced inquiry, a barred list check can also be requested if the applicant is involved in a role with children or vulnerable adults
Spent vs unspent convictions
A spent conviction (under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) refers to certain offences that were committed by a person and can effectively be removed after a certain period of time, allowing some former offender to ‘wipe the slate clean’.
An unspent conviction refers to a criminal conviction/rehabilitation which is still being served, or one that will stay on a person’s record indefinitely.
A safe environment for the future generation
The ability to conduct a DBS check quickly and easily is important in recruitment and building safer workplace environments.
As industries evolve, the DBS service is already adapting to technology. Through 2024 and into 2025, it plans to roll out as a digital-by-default organisation. This means that most certificates will be issued digitally.
If you are looking to streamline the recruitment process for candidates, or you need a DBS certificate for an upcoming role, you can explore the services we offer in DBS checks here.