One of the most commonly asked questions about police checking is validity. How long do CRB checks last for? Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer to this one. It’s probably worth pointing out though that although you’ll still hear people talking about CRB checks, this is an outdated term. The organisation which does police checking nowadays is the Disclosure and Barring Service, or DBS. But the aim of the organisation is the same.
What are CRB checks or DBS checks anyway?
Whatever terminology you choose to use, these types of checks are all about checking your police record. There are different levels of checking, called basic, standard and enhanced. The type of check you need will depend on the sort of job you will be doing. You can even apply for a basic DBS check on yourself. Most people know that if you’re going to be working with children or with elderly or disabled adults, you need a DBS check. There are lots of other situations in which you might need a check too. There’s lots of information on the official government website which explains in minute detail. In most cases, your employer will guide you through the entire process.
Do CRB checks expire?
DBS certificates, the current replacement for CRB checks, don’t have an expiration date on them. The reason for this is quite simple, when you understand the system. When DBS runs checks, they search the records they hold about you at that particular time. Once the certificate goes off to you in the post, that’s their job done. So if you’re arrested the next day and charged with some horrendous offence, there’s no way of adding it to your already printed certificate.
The DBS leaves it up to individual businesses or organisations to decide how often they want to re-run DBS checks. In some cases, a DBS check is only needed when you apply for entry into a specific profession, such as law. In other cases, employers are free to make their own decisions based on their needs. They will weigh up factors such as role and cost factors too. Most employers settle on a renewal period of anything between 2 years and 5 years.
Isn’t there an easier way?
If you are applying for several DBS checks over the course of a year, you might choose to enrol with the Update service. This gives access to the DBS online database. Once you have had your first check done, any new offences will be automatically uploaded to your account. However, there’s an annual subscription fee to become a member. If your employer is only asking for new checks every three or five years, it’s probably not worth the expense. That’s certainly the case if you’re not stopped from working while you’re waiting for a new certificate to arrive. Usually, employers will meet the cost of getting renewed DBS checks. It’s not your job to remember when your checks need renewed either. But you can help the process along by filling in the forms promptly, and providing documents when asked to bring them in.