A Westminster Hall debate on the subject of the performance of the Disclosure and Barring Service has been scheduled for 1430hrs on Wednesday 26 October 2016. The member in charge of this debate is Helen Hayes MP. The proceedings of this debate may be watched via parliamentlive.tv
Performance of the Disclosure and Barring Service (191 KB , PDF)
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is responsible for processing requests for criminal records checks (DBS checks). It is also responsible for deciding whether it is appropriate for a person to be placed on or removed from “barred lists” of people who are unsuitable to work with children and/or vulnerable adults.
The DBS has a target to issue 95% of DBS certificates within eight weeks. However, it is not currently meeting this target, although it is close: for 2016/17 to date it was at 93.8%.
The main cause of delay in most cases lies at stage 4 of the process outlined above, which involves the DBS sending applications for enhanced checks to the police. The DBS is reliant on a timely response from the police in order to print and issue the DBS certificate within its target timeframe. The DBS therefore has performance service standards in place with each police force:
*Failure to achieve this target may affect our ability to meet our public service standard target for enhanced DBS checks.
However, several forces are failing to meet these standards. The latest available performance statistics are available on the DBS website: see DBS checks: police performance summary.
[1] DBS website, Service standards for DBS checks, referrals and barring [accessed 21 October 2016]
[2] DBS, Balanced Scorecard 2016/2017, August 2016
Performance of the Disclosure and Barring Service (191 KB , PDF)
There will be a debate on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in Westminster Hall on 1 December 2022 at 15:00. This debate will be led by Jackie Doyle-Price MP.
The National Security Bill 2022-23 was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 May 2022. It would replace existing counter-espionage laws with a comprehensive framework for countering hostile state activity analogous to the counter-terrorism framework established since 2000. It would also limit the availability of civil legal aid and damages to those connected with terrorist activity.
The National Security Bill is due to have its remaining stages on 16 November. This paper analyses the amendments made to the Bill in Committee and the main areas of debate so far.
