Nursery World - Shake-up ahead for police record checks

Home secretary David Blunkett has unveiled a package of measures designed to improve the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau, which is responsible for police checks on childcare workers. The proposed improvements follow an independent review into the operation of the CRB announced by Mr Blunkett last September. The CRB, launched in March 2002, ran up a huge backlog of applications over the first six months of its operation as it struggled to keep pace with demand.

The proposed improvements follow an independent review into the operation of the CRB announced by Mr Blunkett last September. The CRB, launched in March 2002, ran up a huge backlog of applications over the first six months of its operation as it struggled to keep pace with demand.

Mr Blunkett said last week that the CRB is now processing 80 per cent of standard disclosures and 50 per cent of enhanced disclosures within three weeks. Enhanced disclosures are appropriate for those involved in regularly caring for or being in sole charge of children - covering the majority of childcarers working with pre-school children. The CRB's target is to process 90 per cent of enhanced disclosures and 95 per cent of standard disclosures within three weeks.

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