If you have ever had the experience of having a criminal record search done in the U.K., then you know about the Criminal Records Bureau. It was founded in 2002 because of the increasing number of requests for criminal record information, for new employees who would be working with children and vulnerable adults. After the Police Act of 1997, the police could no longer handle the large number of requests, and so the bureau was created. The CRB not only processes criminal record information, it also gets information from the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills.

The main objective in creating the CRB was to facilitate access to criminal records so that employers could make better hiring decisions, regarding sensitive jobs dealing with children and other vulnerable persons. Applications for criminal record checks supposedly take anywhere from 10 to 28 days, depending of the disclosure level, yet because the CRB is such a new bureau, it often takes much longer. If someone wants to conduct their own criminal record search, then the CRB is not involved and he or she must request "subject access" from the British police force.

There are two main levels of disclosure that the Criminal Records Bureau uses to conduct each criminal record search. The lowest level is called Standard Disclosure. This level is used for persons who have jobs that regularly require them to come into contact with children or vulnerable adults, but can also be used for jobs that have a high level of responsibility, like accountancy. The Standard Disclosure criminal record checks give details of any convictions, reprimands or final warnings the individual has received, no matter the length of time since the incidents.

Also, information is given regarding whether an individual has even been banned from working with children or vulnerable adults. The other level of disclosure is called Enhanced Disclosure. It is used for jobs that have nearly constant contact with children or vulnerable adults. Professions, such as doctors and social workers must have Enhanced Disclosure, and it includes the additional step of a direct police check for any additional criminal records information.

The Criminal Records Bureau was created with the safety of children and vulnerable adults in mind. When the criminal record checks became too overwhelming for the police because of sheer volume, they had to create the CRB. Now the police have time to do their real job, and the CRB collects the criminal record information. It takes at least 10-28 days to receive a criminal record check from the bureau, so if you need one, then apply as soon as possible.

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