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Local government

Criminal Records Checks

Criminal Records Checks on Council Employees and volunteers for checks for other organisations on their employees and volunteers Criminal Record Checks are undertaken through the Criminal Records Bureau.

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is an Executive Agency of the Home Office, that provides access to criminal record information through its Disclosure service. This service enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to identify staff/volunteers who should be checked to see whether they are suitable for certain work, especially those that work with children or vulnerable adults. The enhanced/standard disclsoures for Staff/volunteers in these cases are covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 Exceptions Order 1975 which means that their complete criminal records can be provided as can local intelligence from the Police etc. The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002.

In order to access criminal records through the CRB organisations must request a disclosure through registered bodies. Bedford Borough Council is a Registered Body. The Registered Body’s role is to: 

• Check and validate the information provided by the applicant on the application form
• Establish the true identity of the applicant, through the examination of a range of documents using guidance provided by the CRB 
• Ensure the application form is fully completed and the information it contains is accurate
• Countersign applications to confirm that the organisation has an entitlement to access criminal record information
• To comply with the CRB’s Code of Practice

Registered Bodies that provide access to the CRB service to other organisations are called Umbrella Bodies. For example, a large organisation that has registered with the CRB to check out its own staff and/or volunteers may decide to offer access to CRB checks to smaller organisations. Umbrella Bodies have the same responsibilities as Registered Bodies and must take reasonable steps to ensure that any organisation they are acting on behalf of also complies with the relevant responsibilities and obligations. Bedford Borough Council is authorised to provide Umbrella Body checks.

In providing a service to local organisations the Council does not want to introduce a further financial burden on local Council Taxpayers. It is for this reason that charges are levied for this service. There may be less costly alternative Umbrella Bodies available to local organisations and we cannot comment on their charges or the procedures they follow to ensure compliance with the CRB’s requirements for accessing disclosures.
 
In order to assess an organisation’s systems to ensure they meet our obligations under the CRB Code of Practice before disclosures are obtained an assessment fee of £150 is charged per organisation wishing to utilise the Council’s Umbrella Body position. In addition, individual disclosure charges of £45 (in addition to any fee charged by the CRB) will be levied by the Council for each request submitted to the CRB. We reserve the right to withdraw this service at any time.

If you wish to utilise this service, please contact:

Keith Simmons
Service Manager (Registration and Administration)
Lead CRB Countersignatory for the Council
Town Hall,
St Paul’s Square,
Bedford
MK40 1SJ

Tel: 01234 221676
Fax: 01234 221777
Email: ksimmons@bedford.gov.uk

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