Behind the Scenes: How Police Forces Process DBS Checks

When it comes to hiring the right candidate, ensuring a safe and trustworthy workforce is of utmost importance. This is where the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks play a crucial role. But have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when a DBS check is sent to the police? Let’s jump into the details regarding Enhanced DBS checks, Standard DBS checks, and Basic DBS checks.?

Why DBS Checks Are Sent to the Police?

For Enhanced DBS checks, applications are sent to police forces if there’s a potential match against the names on the application form and police systems. This means even if an applicant has always lived in one area, their check might be sent to a police force in another area that holds details of a person with the same or similar name. The purpose is to ensure that no crucial information is missed that could impact the safety of vulnerable groups like children or the elderly.?

Additionally, if an individual applies for a position that requires them to work from home, such as a foster carer, the application is submitted to relevant police forces regardless of possible matches.?This step ensures thorough checks on other individuals residing at or frequently visiting the applicant’s home.?

What The DBS Check Process Involves?

1. Initial Screening: Once a DBS application is received, it undergoes initial screening. Basic and Standard checks are usually processed quickly as they do not require police involvement. However, Enhanced checks involve a more rigorous process due to the detailed nature of the checks.?
2. Potential Match Identification: For Enhanced checks, if there’s a potential match found during the initial screening, the application is forwarded to the relevant police forces. This is to verify if the information held by the police is indeed related to the applicant.?
3. Information Gathering: The police then gather information from various sources. This includes checking the Police National Computer (PNC) and other local databases to collate any relevant information. They might also need to gather details from other organizations to ensure a comprehensive check.?
4. Verification and Assessment: Once the information is gathered, the police assess its relevance to the specific role the applicant is applying for. They evaluate if the information is pertinent to the workforce, such as working with children or vulnerable adults.?
5. Decision Making: If the police find information that is relevant and should be disclosed, they make the decision to include it in the DBS certificate. Most of the time, certificates do not contain any ‘approved information’ as the police decide not to disclose any irrelevant information. However, the process of verifying and assessing the data ensures that the decision is made with due diligence.?

Challenges Faced by Police Forces?

High Demand: With over 3 million checks sent to police forces annually, managing the volume can be challenging. High demand often leads to delays, especially when there are staff shortages or unexpected system outages.?

Accuracy and Thoroughness: Ensuring the accuracy and thoroughness of each check is paramount. This involves careful evaluation and sometimes obtaining legal advice to decide whether the information is appropriate for employment purposes.?

Aged Cases: Aged cases, or checks that have been delayed significantly, pose another challenge. These cases often require additional information or clarification, further prolonging the process.?

Resource Constraints: Vacancies and the training of new staff can impact output levels. Until these positions are filled and staff become productive, significant improvements in processing times are challenging to achieve.?

Steps Involved?

To maintain the integrity of DBS checks, police forces follow several steps:?

• Thorough Investigation: Each potential match is thoroughly investigated to avoid false positives.?

• Information Verification: Information from various sources is cross verified for accuracy.?

• Legal Consultation: Legal advice is sought when necessary to ensure compliance with employment laws.?

• Regular Updates: Systems and processes are regularly updated to enhance efficiency and accuracy.?

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The meticulous process behind DBS checks ensures that only the most suitable candidates are hired for roles involving vulnerable groups. Understanding the challenges police forces face helps appreciate the importance of these checks and the efforts made to maintain their accuracy and reliability.?

At Complygate, we are committed to helping you ensure?a safe hiring process. Visit our website to learn more about our background checks today.