CRB Check

Usually they look for evidence of a conviction but they can use stuff that is simply on record depending what it is and what the crb is for. It's a national system but some local authorities ask for more than just the crb. My OH had to get evidence from the Ministry of Defence that there hadn't been any suspected domestic violence when he was in the army.

I think they look at all their criminal records. When I was checked I was 'invited' to declare any convictions. Not that I have any! X

This is not on a personnel basis. Its a long story that concerns a man in my DDs area who we have heard has got a job with young children. ( we have no proof of this)
My DD had call to go to the Police over this persons behaviour. When the Police officer came to my DDs house to speak to her they said that he was well known to the Police but had not committed an offence. Hence, my question, do the police ' look outside the box' so to speak.

I don't think they can make decisions on what they know only what they can prove. The CRB system isn't perfect because it only shows when a crime has been committed but it's better than nothing.

I'm sure I've read somewhere that comments on your police file can be included.

However saying that I have had 2 CRB's and they came up blank, yet I have made a few good citizen phone calls to the police and been a witness to a crime. My daughter was a difficult teen and our local bobby had a chat with her a few times - that didn't come up either.

Since I was CRB'd the law has changed for the better. Now the test for police disclosure of any discretionary information has changed so that the police must “reasonably believe” the disclosure to be necessary; AND there is now a right of appeal for review, against that disclosure to the employer.

I think I read that someone was taken to hospital by the police over a mental health issue and that was recorded and they wanted it taken off. That sort of information can still be included. There is a helpful blog on the subject if you are interested

http://mentalhealthcop.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/section-136-and-crb-checks/

When I was checked I had to give all 19 of my addresses since I married.
DH was in the RAF hence numerous moves.

Almost certainly they would and indeed should, look at intelligence over and beyond any convictions that might suggest that a person had behaved suspiciously with regard to child abuse or very violently in the past.
Basically this is what local Public Protection Units PPUs should do and collate intelligence about.
Any well substantiated suspicions and concerns about child sexual grooming behaviour even when this had not led to any actual abuse should also have been noted.

I know of one man about whom police from one force decided to do a joint visit with colleagues in another area to warn a woman about just how seriously violent her new boyfriend had been to previous partners. It's not often they would normally break confidences about a persons previous criminal activity in that way.

This is what may be crudely defined as "dodgy geezer" information. This stuff needs to be carefully handled by people who can understand and assess the relevance of the information and who will actually discuss any risk in greater detail with those who know about it.

It needs a good active PPU to work like this. It's about how and when to ignore the Data Protection Act.

Thanks for that info, Nelliemoser. So should we assume that when a CRB check comes into the Police station, the PPU are brought into the decision making.
My DD has made two calls to our Police in the past two days and they have not got back to her yet. I will not let the Police get away with this. If need be I will go to my local MPs surgery or the new crime commissioner.

I'm told that CRBs are out and DBSs are in! Disclosure and Barring Service certificate I am told!

The CRB was merged with the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) and is now known as the DBS. The DBS are the ones who make the Vetting and Barring Decision (unless the an offence was committed which results in an automatic barring) however they have no power to actively investigate (seek to obtain information) a claim and rely on witness statements and Police reports etc.

When assessing a case the DBS have a 'lesser burden of proof' compared to the Police so they can actually bar someone without there needing to have been a conviction. The Example they use to illustrate this is quite graphic so I will not repeat it here.

The Police (thankfully) have been given more guidance recently to confirm the information that they can place on to a Certificate, which is now called 'Approved Information'. They can also use their Common Law powers to inform an employer or other interested party about other information.

When considering the information that may be revealed on a DBS check you need to make sure you are aware of the different levels of check that are available Standard or Enhanced (plus Vetting and Barring Lists checked) to do this you can look at the following FAQs which have a lot of useful information, hope it helps :

www.ddc.uk.net/help-advice/dbs-checkfaqs/

It's called PVG in Scotland. Protection of Vulnerable Groups.