You may be surprised to discover models in the UK are required to undergo a formal criminal record check called a DBS check.

DBS checks are a legal requirement for all those working in frontline roles in the UK. Operating under terms set out in the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, the Disclosure and Barring Service use DBS checks to keep the public protected from those who are unsuitable for work with the public.

All DBS checks are carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service, unless you are in Scotland where they are managed by Disclosure Scotland.

What will a basic DBS show?

The strongest CRB checks are used to detect those who are could pose a particular threat to children, vulnerable adults and the general public.

Your work as a model will not bring you into regularly unsupervised interactions with the public or locations designed for children or vulnerable adults so you will only need to take a basic DBS check.

A basic DBS check for a model will require a formal search to check for any unspent criminal convictions or conditional cautions.

Your DBS check can be requested by you or your employer and we can support you to complete your DBS online. ....more

Following the search by the DBS, you will receive a DBS certificate through the post and online. Any information found during the search, it will be listed on the DBS certificate. If no criminal records are uncovered, the certificate will be blank.

For more information about DBS checks or to apply for a basic DBS check for a model online, visit our home page.