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.

Contact us if you have questions about whether you need a Disclosure.

Requirements & Application Fees

Application can be processed online. You need to bring the following to below address if you would like to apply:
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

Fee: £68

Basic 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 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.

Fee: £45

Standard Disclosure

Standard Disclosures include convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings in England and Wales held on the Police National Computer. The most relevant convictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland may also be included.

These are only available to organisations whose professions, offices, employments, work and occupations are listed in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

It’s important to note that Standard Disclosures no longer include a check of the old or new Barred Lists from 12th October 2009. Therefore if the position includes work or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults, you may now be entitled to an Enhanced Disclosure.

Fee: £45

Enhanced Disclosure

An Enhanced Disclosure includes an additional check of local police records.

These are for posts involving a far greater degree of contact with children or vulnerable adults. In general, the type of work involves regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of such people. Examples include a teacher, nursery worker or Scout leader.

Enhanced Disclosures are also issued for certain statutory purposes such as gaming and lottery licences. You have to be eligible under the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 to receive an Enhanced Disclosure.

Fee: £78

Volunteer disclosure

A Volunteer 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 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.

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 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.

Fee: £13