What is a Criminal Records Background check?
A criminal records check often called CRB check searches your details against criminal records and other sources, including the Police National Computer. The check may reveal convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings.The CRB check will either confirm that you don’t have a criminal record, or it will list any relevant convictions, cautions, reprimands, warnings and, if applicable, whether you have been barred from working with vulnerable groups. The police can also include non-conviction information, for example, fixed penalties, that may be relevant.
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) processes criminal record checks in England and Wales. Find out more information about criminal records check at DirectGov.
Criminal Records checks
The availability and legal use of Criminal Records information varies greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. This search helps provide insight into characteristics and actions that indicate a propensity for behaviour that might not be conducive to your company culture. In the UK Sterling Infosystems is an Umbrella Body registered with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) as well as Disclosure Scotland (DS), and can process requests for Basic, Standard and Enhanced Disclosures. There are three types of disclosures available in the United Kingdom depending on the type of role for which the candidate is applying:
- Basic Level Disclosure (processed via DS)
- Standard Level Disclosure (processed via the CRB or DS)*
- Enhanced Level Disclosure (processed via the CRB or DS)*
*The CRB does not currently process Basic Level Disclosures; therefore ALL Basic Disclosures are fulfilled via DS. Standard/Enhanced Levels are processed by DS only if relevant to employment in Scotland. For the rest of the UK, Standard/Enhanced are processed by the CRB.
Definitions and scope as follows:
- Basic Disclosure contains only convictions considered unspent under The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- Standard Disclosure contains all conviction information, spent and unspent, including cautions.
- Enhanced Disclosure contains all conviction information, spent and unspent, and any other non conviction information considered to be relevant by the police or other Government bodies.
The information included in the disclosure will depend on the type of disclosure applied for.
Information included
|
Type of disclosure
|
Basic
|
Standard
|
Enhanced
|
Unspent convictions
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
Spent convictions
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
Cautions
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
Inclusion on children's' lists (where relevant to post applied for)
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
Inclusion on adults' lists (where relevant to post applied for)
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
Other relevant information held by police forces
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
Vendor Information
Disclosure Scotland
DS is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and is a service designed to enhance public safety. DS provides potential employers and voluntary sector organisations with criminal history information on individuals applying for posts.
Criminal Records Bureau
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), an Executive Agency of the Home Office, provides wider access to criminal record information through its checking service.
This service 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 involve children or vulnerable adults. The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002.
Pricing and Turnaround Times
Turnaround Time:
This varies depending on volume received by the bureaus. Please check their websites for updates on current turnaround times.
Pricing:
To confirm client pricing, please reach out to our sales team at screening@sterlinginfosystems.co.uk