Massive hole in DBS checks

[lcakethereforeIam]

Came across this BBC article

Government to review DBS system after Leeds nursery worker case - BBC News https://share.google/iFuHKqzsbDOoEZwhX

I admit I believed it would be updated in real time but I hadn't really thought about it. I now can see why that would be difficult to do; not everything is digitised, different computer systems, etc., but 9 months!

if you have ever seen behind the curtain of the civil service you'll know it way way more sticky tape and string than computers who talk to each other. Surprised it was ever done to be honest.

True. More important things to do 🏳️‍🌈 than the safety of children.

Id love to know how many calls the trans hotline gets.

Yep, I've always thought it was pretty pointless. Only as good as the day you had it done - and there's no expiry date on it. It depends on the organisation as to how often it is rechecked.

Only as good as the day you had it done - and there's no expiry date on it.

A DBS certificate is only valid for a year. If you don't subscribe to the update service you need to apply for a new certificate. The update service is meant to alert if there have been any changes since the certificate was issued.

DOA I have an extended DBS on the update service.

If you haven’t been arrested or been accused or committed a crime or there is no intelligence held on any system that the police use i.e PNC for crime or PND for intelligence, then your DBS check will be clear.

That's true. DBS wouldn't, for example, have saved Preston Davey. But that's a whole different argument.

No. DBS do not expire.

But the point is that DBS were always a chocolate teapot (same as CRB)
and the 'update service' is both delayed and incomplete

several forces are massively behind on updates

You are correct & I was wrong. There is no expiry date on a DBS. This is because it's a snapshot in time so like an MOT certificate is only good for the date it is issued. This is why it's normal for an employer to request a brand new DBS check when taking on a new employee & insist existing employees subscribe to the update service.

The dbs system is a joke and what little good it did do was eviscirated the moment they allowed special pathways for trans identifying people

In what way? I thought the trans pathway still checks someone’s old and new names

It’s not even that good. It can only report things a person has been caught for. It wouldn’t just know that someone is an embezzler, paedophile, mugger, unless they’d been caught and found guilty.

Tbh I don't think these kids if checks make a huge difference concretely even when things are kept up.

Completely agree and it also depends on the type of check. But ultimately if nothing on PNC, PND (checked for enhanced) and nothing from local forces and barring, then the person is in the clear.

There's an argument it's worse than useless, given that it offers a false sense of security.

Yes, but if you're using a name that isn't recorded anywhere there isn't a way to marry up previous convictions. Therefore you get a clean DBS.

Name changes can be used to obtain a new set of ID, but the systems don't send DBS a list of previous names used by you.

I once did an investigation (ex police) into a paedophile and uncovered over 20 identities he had been using internationally across passports, driving licences, his workplaces, his educational institution and more.

Whilst I was able to track back each name change, I understand this is a loophole that still has not been closed.

I'm hoping I'm wrong, it's been sorted and that someone can tell me this!!

How do they check a name that isnt on the form? They are relying on the potential ex crim to call up and tell them. Criminals are notoriously honest right?

DBS relies on honesty
to supervise criminals

what could possibly go wrong

I think criminals might be pissed that they've gone to all the trouble of getting a new name, possibly with accompanying documentation, when their conviction was just going to languish on a to do list for the best part of a year or longer if the Police are busy with other stuff.