Customer confidence in Criminal Records Bureau’s vetting service at an all-time high, the CRB claims, pointing to a poll by MORI.
Some 20,000 unsuitable people have had job offers withdrawn and been prevented from gaining access to children and vulnerable adults as a result of CRB checks carried out in 2004.
The CRB has published its findings on customer satisfaction and the impact of CRB checks on the protection of children and the vulnerable.
Eight out of ten customers say CRB checks improve their ability to protect children and vulnerable adults, and improve their confidence in recruitment decisions.
In 2004, the CRB carried out 2.6 million checks, of which 195,000 revealed information about the applicant
This resulted in around 20,000 unsuitable people being stopped from gaining access to children or vulnerable adults. In most cases, the job offer was withdrawn due to the applicant having a conviction. Theft and violence accounted for 56pc of those convictions
Over 80pc of customers say CRB checks actively deter unsuitable people from applying to work with children and the vulnerable
Four out of five customers are now satisfied with the service provided by the CRB, with over one in four customers โvery satisfiedโ
Over 80pc of customers rate the application process โeasyโ.
What they say
Andy Burnham, Home Office Minister with responsibility for the CRB, said: โThe research shows customer satisfaction at an all-time high, reflecting the very real improvements made by the CRB year on year. Most customers believe that the CRB check also acts as a deterrent, putting off unsuitable people from even applying to work with children and the vulnerable.โ And Vince Gaskell, Chief Executive of the CRB, said: โI am delighted that this independent research, conducted with our customers, has shown increasing levels of customer satisfaction, reflecting the improvements we have made to the service we are providing. More crucially, it has confirmed the hugely important role we are playing in protecting children and vulnerable adults from those that may wish to harm them, clearly demonstrating the important role of the CRB.โ
