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14 February 2008 / Helen Hart
Issue: 7308 / Categories: Features , Public , Legal services , Community care
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Checking up

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Are Criminal Records Bureau checks too onerous? asks Helen Hart

Anyone wishing to work with children or vulnerable adults is required to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check to ensure they have not been involved in any activity which could mean that they constitute a danger to children. This does not just involve those wishing to undertake paid work, such as working in a school, but also volunteers, such as scout leaders, who are required to submit to a disclosure exercise. The number of adults who must undergo CRB checks on their suitability to work with children in schools and other institutions runs into several million. Given the scale of this operation, it is inevitable that mistakes will occasionally be made.

DISCLOSURE

The CRB is based in Liverpool and was established in March 2002 under Pt V of the Police Act 1997. It is run as a public-private partnership with Capita. It currently obtains records via the Police National Computer of the local police forces, as well as Scottish police records

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