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Over the years the system for running police checks on people in the UK has changed several times. You’ll still hear people talking about CRB checks even though the Criminal Records Bureau ceased to exist ten years ago. A further complication is that due to different legal systems, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different bodies responsible for criminal records checking.

Confused about the amount of paperwork you have to complete when starting a new job? It seems that every year another layer of forms is added to the pile, making applying for a job a full time job in itself. Two of the most common checks are right to work checks and DBS checks.

Most people come into contact with the system for checking up on police records when they apply for a new job. There is another situation when you might need a certificate stating your criminal record though, and that’s when you’re thinking of going overseas. You’re not asked to prove your character when going overseas on holiday. This is only a concern for people who are moving overseas, on a permanent basis.

Life in the UK can be confusing. A lot of the confusion when it comes to dealing with government departments is down to the fact that processes vary depending on where you live. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all devolved to some extent, which means that rules might be different in each place.

Most of us are aware that a DBS check looks into our criminal record. But there’s more confusion over what exactly will be printed on the DBS certificate. Is it just a list of every brush you’ve ever had with the law? Or just the most recent stuff? And how exactly is a criminal conviction defined anyway? It’s all very complicated, and there aren’t always straightforward answers.

Everyone makes mistakes at some point. It’s unavoidable. On most occasions, mistakes are easily rectified and don’t have lasting consequences. Make mistakes on official documents though and mistakes might be harder to fix.

If you’ve never applied for a DBS check before, the process can be daunting. Especially if you’re the sort of person who doesn’t like filling in forms or completing paperwork. However, the system has been designed to be as straightforward as possible, and if you do run into difficulties, there are always people you can turn to for help.

Many of us consider that our financial situations is something we’d rather keep private, and not discuss with people we don’t know very well. It can therefore come as quite a shock that an employer wants to run a credit check on you because you’ve applied for work in a bank, financial services company or in some other position of responsibility.

Thousands of people are called up to serve on a jury each year, and it’s the backbone of our legal system. The eligibility criteria varies depending on where in the UK you live, but if you’re aged over 18, under 70 and listed on the electoral roll, then the letter summoning to court might drop onto the doormat at any time.

There’s any number of reasons why someone would want to volunteer in a museum. Many are young people doing degrees in History or related subjects and who want to get some relevant work experience, or retired people with a passion for the subject who want to do something useful with their spare time.