Hertfordshire police speed up DBS criminal record checks

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 11:03 · Archive

Hertfordshire Constabulary has significantly reduced processing times for Disclosure and Barring Service checks required for work with children and vulnerable adults.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has significantly improved the timeliness of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, which provide employers with information about convictions, cautions and warnings. These checks are required for anyone seeking to work with children, vulnerable adults or in sensitive government or legal sectors.

Chief Constable Andy Prophet told the police and crime commissioner that the force had cut overdue applications dramatically between early August and the end of September. The constabulary was handling a live caseload of 8,500 applications in early August, of which 1,500 were overdue or beyond timescales. By the end of September these numbers had fallen to 5,500 and 261 respectively.

Mr Prophet said the average processing time was now 18 days, compared with a national average of 25 days. He attributed improvements to a focus on productivity, extra resourcing and technology. He told the commissioner that performance was not yet where he wanted it to be, but expressed confidence that the improvements would be sustained and that by the end of the year the force would have none or very few cases outside agreed timescales.

Hertfordshire police speed up DBS criminal record checks — Image: Hemel Gazette

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

Police processing of DBS checks has "improved significantly" says Hertfordshire's Chief ConstableHertfordshire Constabulary has significantly improved the timeliness of checks being made as part of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), it has been reported.Hemel Gazette · 14 Oct, 11:01
Police processing of DBS checks has “improved significantly”, says top copHertfordshire Constabulary has significantly improved the timeliness of checks being made as part of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), it has been reported.Herts Advertiser · 14 Oct, 10:26
Police processing of DBS checks has “improved significantly”, says top copHertfordshire Constabulary has significantly improved the timeliness of checks being made as part of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), it has been reported.The Comet · 14 Oct, 10:26

In this story: Hertfordshire Constabulary · Andy Prophet · Jonathan Ash-Edwards · Disclosure and Barring Service · Hertfordshire

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem