Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Checks and Vetting and Barring

CRB checks are carried out to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.  CRB checks are required by any organisation who works with children and vulnerable adults, including voluntary and community organisations.

North Herts Centre for Voluntary Services is registered with the Criminal Records Bureau as an umbrella body.  This means we can process CRB application checks for your staff and volunteers.  We also offer free advice on safe storage, handling and disposal of your CRB checks.

There are two types of CRB check - a Standard CRB Check and an Enhanced CRB Check.  An Enhanced CRB Check is required for anyone working directly with children or vulnerable adults. 

A CRB check can access the following information:-

• Records held on the Police National Computer (PNC), including Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands and Warnings in England and Wales, and most relevant convictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• Information held by local police forces and other agencies, relating to relevant non-conviction information;
• Information held on lists maintained by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Detailed information about CRB checks can be found at www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk

CRB Application Checks at North Herts CVS

To have your CRB check done at North Herts CVS, you will need to make an appointment.  Checks are done face to face and usually take 10-15 minutes to do. 

The person requiring the check will need to bring various forms of ID (original documents) to the appointment.  We suggest:-

Passport, Driving Licence, Birth or Marriage Certificate (two of these items)

National Insurance Number (ideally proof of this on a card, payslip or other documentation)

Bank statement/utility bill with current name and address and less than threee months old.

If you have moved within the last 5 years, previous address details (including postcodes) will be required. 

If you do not have these documents available, an alternative list of documents is available on the CRB website.  Please visit www.crb.gov.uk

CRB Check Costs

Standard CRB Check         £26

Enhanced CRB Check        £36 

Administration Charges

Whilst CRB checks are FREE to volunteers and unpaid staff within voluntary organisations, North Herts Centre for Voluntary Service charge an administration fee for each check carried out.  The charges are as follows:-

For North Herts CVS Members                                                £15

For other community and voluntary groups and individuals          £20

For commercial groups and others                                          £25

Discounts on administration charges are available for 10 or more checks carried out at one time.

For more information about CRB checks or to arrange an appointment, please contact us on 01462 689400. 

Vetting and Barring

Increased safeguards were introduced with the new Vetting and Barring Scheme in October 2009 by the Independent Safeguarding Authority.  All organisations, including voluntary and community groups, should be aware of their legal obligations.  This programme was then put on hold in June 2010 with the change of government. 

More information on Vetting and Barring can be found on the Independent Safeguarding Authority website at www.isa-gov.org