Disclosure of Criminal Records

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) was established in December 2012.  It is an executive agency of the Home Office and its purpose is to help all types of organisations in England and Wales make more informed recruitment decisions.

The DBS enables organisations to gain access to important criminal and other information when screening out candidates who may be unsuitable for certain kinds of work.  This service helps to provide protection for children and other vulnerable members of society.

Staff who are appointed to certain posts, especially those involving contact with children or vulnerable adults, will need to obtain a disclosure through the DBS. The same applies to students on certain programmes.