Criminal Records Bureau Checks – Comment

Richard Mellor, Managing director of Cummins Mellor Recruitment reports the increase in demand for CRB checks but warns that as recently highlighted in the press, the importance of using a current registered umbrella body cannot be underestimated. There have been allegations that employers are abusing the system to snoop on recruits but the response of the CRB states that:-
"Employers cannot ‘snoop’ on recruits without their knowledge – each application requires the individual’s signature to show consent to a check being made. Guidance is available to all individuals before completing the form to clarify whether a disclosure is appropriate and what information they are obliged to supply the employer. A disclosure, once issued is not public property and there are strict rules about what can happen to that information. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) closely monitors its Registered Bodies and where errors occur does take action."
Source CRB website
Richard continues:
"Our specialist personnel checks division (www.personnelchecks.co.uk) always insists on seeing original documentation whether that be passport, birth certificate etc. photocopies are not accepted, and the applicant’s signature is always required. There is a lot of confusion surrounding the issue and our staff spend a lot of time investigating whether an applicant actually needs a check and if so at what level. My advice to anyone requiring a CRB check would be to do your homework and make sure that the company offering the check service is currently registered with the CRB (the CRB reduced its Registered Body network last year to improve the quality of the service) and to watch out for hidden costs –personnel checks do not charge a registration fee but some do.
(Richard Mellor Managing Director Cummins Mellor Recruitment)