Nursery World - Overseas staff in CRB 'blind spot'

There is no legal mechanism in place to check if people from overseas who come to England and Wales to work with children are suitable to do so or have a criminal record. This blind spot in the Criminal Records Bureau was highlighted in a report published last week by the National Audit Office. The report, Criminal Records Bureau: Driving safer recruitment?, said that the CRB 'cannot access criminal record databases abroad, nor does it have the powers or remit to do so under legislation. It cannot, therefore, check the criminal history of foreign applicants, nor can it check criminal history during periods which British applicants may have spent abroad'.

This blind spot in the Criminal Records Bureau was highlighted in a report published last week by the National Audit Office. The report, Criminal Records Bureau: Driving safer recruitment?, said that the CRB 'cannot access criminal record databases abroad, nor does it have the powers or remit to do so under legislation. It cannot, therefore, check the criminal history of foreign applicants, nor can it check criminal history during periods which British applicants may have spent abroad'.

The report noted that the CRB was also unable to access other potential sources of data such as information held by HM Customs and Excise, and the British Transport Police.

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