Judges at the Court of Appeal handed down a judgement last week which has deemed current elements of the UK’s criminal records regime in breach of human rights. The Home Office is seeking to appeal the decision.
The ruling could potentially have implications for national governing bodies and their associated members, which widely use criminal records checking as a tool to ensure that coaches, teachers or volunteers in regular contact with children or vulnerable adults are checked appropriately beforehand.
The decision could have a direct impact on the degree of content and information that a criminal records check would be able to disclose.
The judgement coincides with the introduction of the new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) unveiled by the Home Office at the end of last year, which is set to replace the more well-known Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) system.
The Home Office has said that it remains very much business as usual in terms of the introduction and implementation of this new service, until the outcome of its appeal is known.
To register for updates on how the appeal is progressing, as well as to receive information on how you should be preparing your organisation for the arrival and implementation of the new DBS system, visit the Home Office website.
You can also find information and guidance on the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s website, or contact Joy Tottman to find out more.
