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Criminal Record Bureau reduces fees

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) announced today that it will reduce the fee for Standard Disclosures from October with total savings to customers of £1 million in 2009/10.

Following a pricing review, the government agency has agreed to reduce the fee charged for a Standard Disclosure from £31 to £26. The change will come into effect from 1 October this year.

The fee reduction has been made possible due to an expected increase in the volume of disclosure applications being processed as the new Vetting and Barring Scheme comes into place in October.

Home Office Minister David Hanson MP, said:

“The CRB plays a vital role helping to protect the most vulnerable in our society by giving employers the extra tools they need to make informed recruitment decisions.

“The cost of a CRB check now represents even greater value for money given the protection and assurance that such checks provide.”

Today’s fee decrease comes on the same day as the CRB publishes its Business Plan for 2009/10.

This outlines the priorities for the year ahead and shows that during the past 12 months the CRB has:

• Worked closely with the Home Office and Independent Safeguarding Authority to develop systems and processes ready for the Vetting & Barring Scheme (VBS).
• Launched the first electronic application channel, e-Bulk which allows its largest volume customers to submit multiple applications online, bringing many benefits to the CRB and its customers, including faster results and improved quality and accuracy;
• Added more Data Sources to our PLX database giving it a wider range of information that can be searched as part of an Enhanced CRB check– thereby increasing the information it can provide to customers.
  Extended the range of jobs, posts, positions and employments that are entitled to a CRB check as part of safer recruitment practices;
• Increased customer satisfaction rates to an all-time high and gained overwhelming support for CRB checks on anyone working with children and vulnerable adults; and
• Prevented a further 18,000 unsuitable people from gaining access to children and vulnerable adults as a direct result of a CRB check, bringing the total to around 98,000 in the past five years.

This level of investment will continue during the next 12 months as the CRB works towards implementation of the Vetting and Barring Scheme and continues to maintain and enhance its existing services and overall performance.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and commenced operation in 2002.

2.  The CRB provides access to criminal record information through its Disclosure service. It 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 involving children or vulnerable adults.

3.  The following fee levels will apply from October 1 throughout the remainder of 2009/10:

- Standard CRB check  £26 (reduced from £31)
- Enhanced CRB check  £36
- POVAFirst check  £6

4.  Media enquiries should be directed to the Home Office Press Office on 0207 035 3535.