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Outcome of VBS and CRB Reviews 11 February 2011

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Publication date: 11 February 2011

The Protection of Freedoms Bill will be put before Parliament on 11 February and this will include proposals that follow the outcome of the reviews of the Vetting and Barring and Criminal Records Regime.

The main recommendations from each of the reviews are:

The Vetting and Barring Scheme

  • to maintain a central barring function
  • to abolish registration and monitoring requirements
  • to redefine the requirements of 'regulated activities'
  • to abolish 'controlled activities'

Criminal Records

  • eligibility for criminal records checks to be scaled back
  • criminal records checks should be portable (transferable) between jobs and activities
  • the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to introduce an online system to allow employers to check if updated criminal records information is held on an applicant
  • a new CRB procedure is to be developed so that the criminal records certificate is only issued directly to the individual applicant
  • the Government is to introduce a filter to remove old and minor conviction information from criminal records checks
  • the introduction of a package of measures to improve the disclosure of police information to employers
  • the CRB is to develop an open and transparent representations process and the disclosure of police information is to be overseen by an independent expert
  • where employers knowingly make unlawful criminal records check applications the penalties and sanctions are to be rigorously enforced
  • basic level criminal record checks are to be introduced in England and Wales
  • comprehensive and easily understood guidance is to be developed to fully explain the criminal records and employment checking regime

Background information about the VBS and CRB Reviews and their terms of reference is available in Employment Briefing 80/10. The proposals will take time to implement and we do not expect any changes to take effect until 2012 at the earliest.

If you have any questions please contact Emma Mason, Senior Employment Adviser at the AoC.

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