CRB Saint
Catch up with the CRB Saint on Twitter >
(See our CRB section for specific detail about CRB checks.)
CRB Saint just tweeted: Are Enhanced CRB checks enough?
Are Enhanced CRB checks enough?
Enhanced criminal record checks will need to be carried out if you work in regulated activity, or you manage staff working in regulated activity. But is an Enhanced CRB enough to confirm an individual's identity? Seemingly not...
If an individual uses a false name and has false documents - as was the case with Emmanuel Ganpot a US drug dealer who managed to obtain work with an epilepsy charity in the UK - then any enhanced CRB check carried out on a false name will most likely not show up any spent or unspent convictions on the criminal record: obviously this "false positive" could then mislead an employer into thinking the candidate is who they say they are and suitable for employment.
This you might say isn't any fault of the employer, and you would be right, if someone deliberately provides a false name then of course it is the candidate who is at fault. Even so, this won't stop them from unlawfully gaining employment if no other checks are carried out to verify their identity.
To help employers overcome this problem, and to ensure the checks they carry out as part of their recruitment process are robust, there are some very simple and cost effective checks that would reveal a "false positive". The enhanced CRB is essential when recruiting for regulated positions, but if an employer also verifies a candidate's passport (for example) then any differences in the detail on either document, such as the name and address, could indicate that all is not as it seems and that further checks may be required.
It is this act of checking a variety of documents that can provide much greater assurance for an employer because forging multiple documents can be much harder to accomplish than forging one. Of course, mistakes do happen, names can be misspelt by accident and dates can be entered incorrectly, but these kinds of errors can be quickly spotted by an experienced eye.
So how robust are your vetting checks? Are you doing the minimum required or are going just a little further and getting the assurances you really need?
Talk to one of our team today for some impartial advice on 08450 217 634.
About CRB checks
Enhanced CRBs apply to roles involving a much greater degree of contact with children or vulnerable adults (compared to the Standard CRB check) especially where an employee would supervise, train, take care of, or be solely in charge of children or vulnerable adults.
Standard CRB checks reveal spent and unspent convictions, warnings held on the Police National Computer, cautions, and reprimands. Standard CRBs are also now not issued to anyone who works with children or vulnerable adults.
Basic CRBs are available for all types of employment and voluntary positions (except for those covered by the Standard and Enhanced CRB).
To apply for a CRB please:
- Call the CRB Team: 08450 217 634
- Office hours: 9am to 5.30pm Monday-Thursday (5.00pm Friday).
See our CRB Checks section for more detail.
The CRB process:
- We send out a CRB Disclosure Form to the client's HR department or directly to the applicant.
- Each applicant completes the form, returns it to us, and provides us with any relevant supporting documentation.
- We process the CRB check.
- We report the results of the CRB check to the client / applicant.
CRB & Vetting News
(Quote: CRB Save 25.)
Speak to an advisor now: