Criminal Record Checks | Certn

Criminal Record Checks UK

Make more informed hiring decisions with basic, standard, and enhanced criminal record checks across the UK. Our criminal record checks are processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Disclosure Scotland (DS), and AccessNI.

Secure Top Talent

Criminal record checks UK can save you from high costs and wasted time. We’re a registered issuing body and can run checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Disclosure Scotland (DS), and AccessNI. We make screening easy and straightforward: the process is automated so you can get faster online results.

Industry-Specific Screening

Our analysts can help you choose the right checks and build a cost-effective screening program that meets your organisational and industry needs.

Stay Compliant

We help you meet legal requirements pre-hire, during onboarding, or as part of a continuous background screening program.

Manage Hiring Risk

Employers have a duty of care to check the backgrounds of prospective hires to protect the business, fellow employees, and customers. Let us help you keep your business safe.

Uncover Relevant Criminal History

Criminal history checks are an important part of any background checking process. In the UK, criminal history checks are used to confirm whether a candidate has any records of convictions, cautions, reprimands, or final warnings.

Get Screening With Online Background Checks

From one check to thousands, we can scale our services to meet your business needs. Our industry-leading integrations mean criminal record checks can be integrated into your existing HR workflows for full candidate verification.

Types of Criminal Record Checks UK

We carry out a range of criminal record checks and provide live status updates along the way.

Basic Criminal Record Check – Basic Disclosure

Can be conducted on anyone, with their consent regardless of their position. It provides information on “unspent” convictions. Turnaround times vary from 1 to 10 working business days.

Standard Criminal Record Check – Standard Disclosure

May be issued for people entering certain professions such as members of the legal and accountancy professions. A standard disclosure provides details of all “spent” and “unspent” convictions, as well as details of any cautions, reprimands or final warnings.

Enhanced Criminal Record Check – Enhanced Disclosure

Can be used for posts in a Regulated Activity with a Regulated Activity Provider as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and as amended by the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. These checks don’t check DBS Barred Lists.

Adult’s and Children’s Barred List

Barred lists contain information on individuals who’ve been banned from working with children or vulnerable adults. The Barred List Check is an instant check that can be used to ensure a candidate isn’t prohibited from working with children and or adults and can be carried out while waiting for an Enhanced DBS check to be completed.

FAQs

Is Certn a recognised issuing body?
Yes. Certn acquired Credence Background Screening in 2022. Through Credence, Certn can provide recognised results. Credence is a registered issuing body with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Disclosure Scotland (DS), and AccessNI.

Do Enhanced criminal record checks check barred lists?
No, an Enhanced Criminal Record Check or Enhanced DBS Check doesn’t involve a check of barred lists so an extra Barred List Check may be needed.

Why conduct criminal record checks UK?
Employers have a duty of care to check the backgrounds of prospective employees to protect the business, fellow employees, and customers. Thorough criminal record checks UK can save you from high costs and wasted time, accelerate recruitment, and ensure the best talent is secured.

Checks Faster Than You Can Say 1, 2…

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Over half of job applications contain inaccuracies. Our digital ID verification sets the foundation for fast, easy, and accurate background checks.