Criminal Records Bureau

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  • Applicant's Guidance
  • Application eguide
  • Can I refuse to apply for a CRB check?
  • Certificate Security Features
  • Definition of a volunteer
  • Further information
  • How do I apply for a CRB check?
  • How do I pay for my CRB check?
  • How will I know which level of CRB check is required?
  • For how long is a CRB check valid?
  • How to Raise a Dispute
  • What if I have a criminal record that may not be relevant to the position for which I am applying?
  • How do I know that the information contained on my CRB Check will remain confidential?
  • Levels of CRB check
  • I already have a CRB check, can I use it again?
  • What if I have lived overseas?
  • What information is available through a CRB check?
  • What if things go wrong?
  • Who will receive my CRB check?
  • Why might I have been asked to apply for CRB checks?

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Applicant's Guide to the CRB's Disclosure Service

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), an executive agency of the Home Office provides access to criminal record and other relevant information to organisations in England and Wales. The results of the checks carried out by the CRB help organisations make more informed decisions when recruiting people to work with children and the vulnerable.

CRB checks are also available to certain specified professional, licensing and regulatory bodies whose employees or volunteers are not necessarily in direct contact with the vulnerable.

Through the Disclosure service, organisations can ensure greater protection for the vulnerable members of our society and afford greater protection to their customers, staff, volunteers and ultimately their organisation.

• Application eguide A virtual guide to completing the new application form
• Can I refuse to apply for a CRB check? There are some posts for which a CRB check is required by law.
• Certificate Security Features CRB Disclosures contain a number of security features that can be used to verify whether a Disclosure has been counterfeited or altered in any way.
• Definition of a volunteer How the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) Regulations 2002 defines a volunteer.
• Further information How to contact CRB about its service.
• How do I apply for a CRB check? There are two ways of applying for a CRB check.
• How do I pay for my CRB check? The CRB charges an application fee, this page supplies information on how to pay that fee.
• How will I know which level of CRB check is required? The organisation that has asked you to apply for the CRB check knows what the specific role entails and is.
• For how long is a CRB check valid? Each Disclosure will show the date on which it was printed as CRB checks do not carry a pre-determined period of validity.
• How to Raise a Dispute
• What if I have a criminal record that may not be relevant to the position for which I am applying? Safeguards and guidelines have been introduced to ensure that conviction information is not misused.
• How do I know that the information contained on my CRB Check will remain confidential? Organisations using the Disclosure service must comply with the CRB Code of Practice
• Levels of CRB check To provide this service, the CRB offers two types of check. These are Standard and Enhanced.
• I already have a CRB check, can I use it again? If you are asked to apply for a CRB check and you already have one for a previous role you can ask if the organisation is willing to accept it.
• What if I have lived overseas? The CRB does not generally have access to overseas criminal records.
• What information is available through a CRB check? A CRB check can provide access to a range of different types of information.
• What if things go wrong? The CRB has established a comprehensive complaints process and is commited to provide a high standard of customer service.
• Who will receive my CRB check? When the application is processed, who do the CRB send a copy of the CRB check to.
• Why might I have been asked to apply for CRB checks? You may have been asked to apply for a Standard or an Enhanced CRB check for one of several reasons.