New report from KPSS on DBS checks where name & ‘gender’ are changed & the safeguarding loopholes that creates.

[GrumpyMenopausalWombWielder]

Link To Twitter Thread

Link To Report on KPSS Website

"Our new report, DBS Checks & Identity Verification: Safeguarding Loopholes Created by Changes of Identity is now on our website"

"We found that when individuals who have applied to work in roles where safeguarding applies submit identity documents for DBS checks that display a new identity, safeguarding loopholes are created because the applicant can sever the link with any existing records of offending. 2/"

"The result is that identity verification is compromised & there is no guarantee that the information returned during a DBS check & displayed on the certificate will be accurate or complete. 3/"

"The most wide-reaching loopholes are created where individuals change both their name and gender. This is because of the exceptional enhanced privacy rights the DBS grants to those who change gender.
4/"

"Any individual can easily, and for any reason, change their name and gender on documents commonly used to establish identity via a process of self-declaration. These documents, including passport & driving licence, can be presented for the purposes of a DBS check. 5/"

"Exceptional privacy rights allow an applicant who changed gender to withhold all their previous names from their DBS certificate. Disclosing previous identities is a key component of safeguarding and DBS certificates for other individuals display all other names used. 6/"

"Applicants who change their gender can also conceal their sex & the DBS certificate issued will display their acquired gender instead. The importance of sex to safeguarding means that for all other applicants, sex is always displayed. 7/"

"The current operation of the DBS regime means that organisations requesting DBS checks cannot have confidence in the information disclosed. We propose:

• Mandatory use of NI numbers for DBS checks & identity changes
• DBS certificates display sex registered at birth 8/"

"* DBS certificates display other names used for all applicants, including those who have changed gender as part of changing identity 9/"

"The rules of safeguarding must apply equally to everyone. Whenever the members of one group are excused from the normal requirements of safeguarding, a loophole is created that is ripe for exploitation. 10/"

"KPSS is the only organisation prepared to expose this. To date, the government is unwilling to acknowledge or address this. We will be pushing this at Tory Conference. Constituency contacts: we will be asking for your help. 11/11"

This is a really important report & a subject well worth discussion.

Wow, as women here long suspected. This needs press attention.

Whenever the members of one group are excused from the normal requirements of safeguarding, a loophole is created that is ripe for exploitation

No shit Sherlock.

Sensible suggestions. Sounds like a few more grown ups are making it into the rooms

This was always going to happen.

Agree. How could those allowing self declared changes & then privacy not understand this?

There was a thread here about this a few years ago. I can't remember all the details but I think it became clear that effective DBS checks were reliant on the honesty of the applicant which means if you wanted to conceal a criminal history you just needed to leave previous names off the DBS request. Using the NI number is a much better idea. I can't believe this loophole has been allowed to remain for so long.

That is huge.

And just to be clear for newcomers, visitors and lurkers, no-one is saying that trans people are all sexual predators. The issue is that sexual predators will exploit these enormous loopholes. Safeguarding rules have to apply to everyone.

This is such a good report and with clear easily implemented recommendations.

Given how easily Huntley got around the rules, it really beggars belief that there is this massive loophole staring us in the face

This loophole was obvious from the outset to those of us who have been paying attention. The system for dealing with trans identified male people in the criminal justice and penal system is that it relies on their being honest, doing the right thing and not exploiting weaknesses in the system. The trouble is, lying, not doing the right thing and ruthlessly exploiting loopholes are the sorts of behaviours that tend to land you in the criminal justice system in the first place, so…*

well done KPSS for so clearly articulating the issue and suggesting sensible solutions. I’ve always felt that the foundational requirement to conceal and obscure factual elements of peoples history is troublesome. Better to tell the truth, and stamp down on any negative outcomes such as discrimination or harassment that occur as a result.

*I am not, obviously, saying that trans people are more likely to be criminal. I’m saying that criminals are Not Nice.

I asked this in a safeguarding training (not in relation to trans) and was told you have to give previous names (eg married names.)

However, from my pov that could be omitted easily.

And clearly this issue, thank you for posting as it's very important.

A new aspect of safer recruitment in schools I was told is now that they will do a Google search of your name/s.

This came about as a woman from Spain was working in the U.K. as a nursery assistant. Her dbs was clean as criminal records do not transfer.

She had killed a toddler as a teen and been to jail as a youth offender. But none of this came up on dbs checks - only on Google.

The whole thing is so obviously horrific.

This has been rumoured to be the case for years.
I had convinced myself that this couldn't possibly be true, that they wouldn't be that stupid to leave a massive great big loophole in this process.

The 'victim spin' has been very effective.

Does this include Disclosure Scotland?

Yes, we discussed this extensively. Will try to find the thread.

Whoodathunkit?

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4303105-Sex-offenders-free-to-abuse-children-after-changing-ID

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3690840-Reply-from-Home-Office-re-DBS-and-GRC

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3406740-GRA-and-DBS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3377543-DBS

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3354605-applicants-need-not-enter-names-relating-to-their-previous-gender-dbs-form

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3653715-Challenor-showing-off-their-new-birth-certificate?pg=1

Thanks to ItsAllGoingToBeFine for most of those, from the thread at the top!

Oh. Links bust. Sorry!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3208616-aibu-to-tell-you-that-girlguiding-has-got-this-wrong-let-s-support-them-to-get-it-right

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3360238-DBS-Disqualification-by-association-now-SCRAPPED-for-schools

If I remember correctly, the application form actually said if you are transgender you can contact the DBS people outside of the form, so that the new employers were not informed of previous names.

Not sure if that is still the case, but it relied very heavily on honesty. Which is a key trait of people whose pasts need to be taken into consideration on a DBS check. [Yes, that is me being sarcastic].

We were told that 'what these men did is already illegal, so it's a stretch calling it a "loophole".'

Which as far as I can work out means - 'to hell with safeguarding, because criminals exist'.

Bloody hell, I despair, did no-one honestly think of this :-(

It's so obvious that men will do this. No-one should be able to change their birth certificate or passport, it should show their sex observed at birth.

Exactly. There was a special contact form or phone number which you were asked to use. But no-one knew if you did or not. There was no way to check. Absolute madness.

The awful position of, say, a school realising their DBS checks were completely unreliable and everyone knew, except them.

Well done KPSS. Unbelievable that groups have been able to undermine the safeguarding of children in this way. DBS came about because Ian Huntley was able to hide his previous crimes and behaviour that would have rendered him unsuitable to work in a school with children. The idea that government officials running the DBS have openly colluded with organisations determined to undermine safeguarding is criminally negligent.
I wonder whether FOI checks would reveal the names of the organisations & individuals involved in making children less safe?

What an enraging start to the day. Evidence that yet again trans activist groups and individuals have such power that even safeguarding children is not sacrosanct. They have been able to water down a rigorous process designed to keep children safe in favour of their own personal wishes. 😡