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CRB reduces fees
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has reduced the fee
for Standard Disclosures. Following a pricing
review, the government agency has agreed to reduce the fee charged
for a Standard Disclosure from £31 to £26. The change will come
into effect from today.
For the third year running the CRB has refused to increase its
fees. The planned fee reduction has been made possible due to an
expected increase in the volume of disclosure applications being
processed as the new Vetting and Barring Scheme comes into place
from 12 October.
Checks for volunteers will continue to be free of charge which
provided a saving to the voluntary sector of approximately £27
million in 2008/09.
Home Office Minister Lord Brett said:
“The CRB plays a vital role helping to protect the most
vulnerable in our society by giving employers the extra tools they
need to make informed recruitment decisions.
“The cost of a CRB check continues to represent good value for
money given the protection and assurance that such checks
provide.
“In 2008 a further 18,000 unsuitable people were prevented from
gaining access to children and vulnerable adults as a direct result
of a CRB check, bringing the total to around 98,000 in the past
five years.”
Today’s fee decrease follows the publication of the CRB’s Annual
Report and Accounts and Business Plan for 2009/10.
The business plan outlines the priorities for the year ahead and
shows that during the past 12 months the CRB has:
worked closely with the Home Office and Independent
Safeguarding Authority to develop systems and processes ready for
the Vetting & Barring Scheme (VBS);
launched the first electronic application channel, e-Bulk which
allows its largest volume customers to submit multiple applications
online, bringing many benefits to the CRB and its customers,
including faster results and improved quality and accuracy;
extended the range of jobs, posts and positions that are
entitled to a CRB check as part of safer recruitment
practices;
increased customer satisfaction rates to an all-time high and
gained overwhelming support for CRB checks on anyone working with
children and vulnerable adults; and
prevented a further 18,000 unsuitable people from gaining
access to children and vulnerable adults as a direct result of a
CRB check, brining the total to around 98,000 in the past five
years.
This level of investment will continue during the next 12 months
as the CRB works towards implementation of the Vetting and Barring
Scheme and continues to maintain and enhance its existing services
and overall performance.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act
1997 and commenced operation in 2002.
2. The CRB provides access to criminal record information
through its Disclosure service. It enables organisations in the
public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment
decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for
certain work, especially that involving children or vulnerable
adults.
3. From today, the following fee levels will apply
throughout the remainder of 2009/10:
- Standard CRB check £26 (reduced from £31)
4. Media enquiries should be directed to the Home
Office Press Office on 0207 035 3535.
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