What is a Disclosure?

A Basic Disclosure (known as a criminal conviction certificate in Part V of the Police Act 1997) is available to anyone, including individuals and the self-employed. It is provided by Disclosure Scotland as the DBS do not provide the same level of check. It contains details of convictions considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 or states that there are no such convictions. It is not job specific or job related, and may be used more than once.

You are entitled to ask prospective employees or volunteers to get a Basic Disclosure as part of your pre-employment checking process.

Our comprehensive Disclosure service checks information:

Held on the Police National Computer (PNC), including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings in England, Wales and those recorded from Scotland. There is also some Northern Ireland data held on the PNC
Held by local police forces relating to relevant non-conviction information
From the Independent Safeguarding Authority’s Vetting and Barring Scheme
Held by the Department for Education (DfE) under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 (formerly known as List 99)

You can choose from three types of Disclosure depending on the position and your organisation:

Standard Disclosure
Enhanced Disclosure
Volunteer Disclosure

Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme –

This is a disclosure specific to Scotland for those in regular contact with children and protected adults. In order to join the scheme individuals must be vetted with checks similar to the Enhanced Disclosure.

Once individuals become members of the scheme they are subject to ongoing monitoring to ensure vetting information is up to date.

Who needs a Disclosure?

You need a Disclosure for those professions, offices, employments, work and occupations listed in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This includes anyone working with children or vulnerable adults, whether the position is paid or voluntary.

Work with children includes a person whose normal duties involve contact with people under the age of 18, a person living at the premises where child-minding or day care services are provided, and a person applying to be adoptive or foster parents.

A vulnerable adult is defined as a person over 18 years old, who has a learning or physical disability, a physical or mental illness including drug or alcohol addiction, or a reduction in physical or mental capacity.

Other professions that require Disclosures include the security industry and taxi drivers.

Application can be processed online. You need to bring the following documents below to your appointment:

Passport or Biometric Residence Permit and Driving License – Provisional is also accepted
Utility Bills e.g Gas or Electricity bill, Telephone Rental bill.
Your job role and employment details

To apply for a DBS, contact us on 020 3633 8782 or complete our enquiry form here