The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is an agency of the Home Office set up to provide access to criminal record information through its disclosure service. Based in Liverpool the CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002. The CRB is run as an Executive Agency of the Home Office by Civil Servants, and delivers the service through a number of strategic partnerships with the Police, CAPITA and registered bodies. For further information see the CRB website

The Records Disclosure Service Process

A breakdown of the process followed by Devon County Council's Records Disclosure Service (RDS) in conjunction with the CRB and nominated Authorised Officers is as follows:

1. RDS Supply Authorised Officers (AO) with blank Disclosure Application Forms (DAF)
2. AO issue applicant with a DAF and guidance
3. Applicant completes the DAF and returns it to the AO with required identification
4. AO checks DAF has been completed correctly, conducts ID check then completes section X
5. AO completes a CRB1 form and sends to RDS with the DAF and an ID Evidence Sheet (backed with the CRB1 form)
6. RDS checks DAF, creates a record on the database and checks against the DCC Applicants Referral List  
7. RDS Countersignatory authorises section Y, sends DAF to the CRB and Scans CRB1
8. CRB check Police National Computer and Safeguarding Lists and contact Local Police for information
9. CRB issue the disclosure certificate to RDS and a copy to the applicant
10. RDS check accuracy, update database and if certificate is clear sends email confirmation to AO
11. RDS shred certificate (unless required to store for Ofsted or CSCI)
12. If positive certificate, RDS post direct to AO or if internal pass to nominated contact
13. AO complete internal CRB2 form or external customer slip with decision
14. RDS update database, scan in CRB2 or shred decision slip

Timescales

The CRB have a targeted turned around time of 4 weeks for an enhanced disclosure and 2 weeks for a standard disclosure. This does vary however on certain factors such as if the person has lived in several areas which would require more than one police force to be contacted, or if there are records held on the person with the police. On occasions they will require further information before issuing the disclosure.

We are pleased to say however that in many cases we have been receiving the results for all type checks on average within 2 weeks.