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One recent change in the rented sector shows a change in these requirements for criminal records checking, as Cornwall Council has announced that it is considering introducing criminal record checks for anyone applying to operate HMOs – houses of multiple occupation - as part of an extensive crackdown on housing conditions.

A recent survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), shows that many employers have concerns about the potential for re-offending among candidates with criminal records. The study showed that as many as 60% of employers had concerns that employees who had been in trouble with the police may re-offend, and 66% of employers expressed worries regarding the safety of their existing staff members.

Whatever the level of your DBS check, a key part of the process is establishing your identity so that your employer knows that they are dealing with the correct person. There is a range of ways for doing this, and for many people the easiest option is going along to their local Post Office to make use of their identity checking service.

We all know that recent years have been tough for businesses in all sectors, and there is rising concern that some organisations may be tempted to cut corners – and costs - by neglecting Disclosure and Barring Service checks, or DBS checks. These are the criminal records checks on employees which were previously known as CRB checks.

Efforts to secure a spot on Winter Love Island were thwarted for convicted criminals after show producers enhanced background checks with the government's Disclosure & Barring Service. Asking all potential contestants to have a DBS check should flag up anyone with a serious criminal history, and whose presence in the house could bring the show into disrepute.

New regulations surrounding criminal background checks for MOT testers and those running garages came into force at the end of March 2024, and industry research in January 2024 showed that nearly 75% of MOT testers had yet to undergo their annual skills assessment.

If the sector in which you work is one where DBS checks are a standard part of recruitment, then you might be faced with applying for multiple DBS checks over the course of just a few months. It’s hardly surprising therefore that many workers ask about whether they can take a DBS certificate obtained for one job and use it for another position.

To coincide with the launch of the Home Office's Stop! Think Fraud campaign, the Disclosure and Barring Service is publicising a new campaign to try to prevent job seekers from falling foul of advanced fee job scams, which commonly involve criminal records checking. Fraudsters are trying to deceive job seekers into paying up-front for non-existent DBS checks, particularly during peak recruitment periods.

DBS Checks play a crucial role in making informed recruitment decisions for both individuals and organisations. In the UK, criminal records checks are the main tool used by employers in ensuring they are following safeguarding procedures, and not putting vulnerable people, or their company finances in danger. In England and Wales, criminal records checks are done by the Disclosure and Barring Service, or DBS.

A Police Clearance Certificate, often referred to as a “good conduct” certificate, is an official document issued by law enforcement agencies. This sort of police check is about verifying an individual's criminal record status, telling immigration departments or employers about any criminal convictions, or pending charges. It sounds remarkably similar to applying for a DBS check but there are subtle differences.