6[Author ID1: at Wed Jan 6 15:41:00 2010 ]^th[Author ID1: at Wed Jan 6 15:41:00 2010 ] January 2010[Author ID1: at Wed Jan 6 15:41:00 2010 ]

Dear Mr Chambers,

Thank you for your request, received on 15^th December 2009 made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please find attached our response.

Re-Use of Information

Any information we provide following your request under the Freedom of Information Act will not confer an automatic right for you to re-use that information, for example to publish it. If you wish to re-use the information that we provide and you do not specify this in your initial application for information then you must make a further request for its re-use as per the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 www.opsi.gov.uk. This will not affect your initial information request.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.

If you are not content with our response you can request a review by writing to:

Head of Policy

Criminal Records Bureau

PO Box 165

Liverpool

L69 3JD

Yours Sincerely

Anna Graves

Freedom of Information Team

FOI Reference Number:

Information Requested:

Please could you tell me how many of the CRB checks carried out in 2008-9 actually flagged up someone who was a list-99 member?

The government claims that 18,000 "unsuitable" people were stopped from working with children in 2008-9 as a result of CRB checks, so could you provide a break-down of what offences were flagged up?

Response :

During 2008/09, there were 122 matches identified on list 99 where a search of the lists was requested on the application form. We are not able to provide details of the reasons why these applicants are on List 99, as the CRB is not responsible for the decision making or maintenance of the barred lists.

The CRB provides information to UK employers so that they can make more informed recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involves children or vulnerable adults. There is no involvement from the CRB in any recruitment decisions made as a result of a CRB check being issued. As such, we are unable to advise of the offences detailed on the CRB checks of those individuals included in the 18,000 people deemed unsuitable for specific roles by employers.

The figure of 18,000 and previous figures were calculated by IPSOS MORI (commissioned by the CRB since 2002 to carry out an extensive programme of customer research). This research contained one particular strand which focuses on the recruitment decisions of employers who have applied for a CRB check. The figures are based on the number of job offers withdrawn by employers as a direct result of the information revealed through such a check.

Employers are responsible for determining the suitability of applicants to work with children or vulnerable adults based on whether the applicant is included on one of the Independent Safeguarding Authorities lists of barred individuals and on the relevancy of the applicants criminal record to the job being offered.

The CRB is currently conducting its 8th year of research but the latest results from the 2008 survey indicate that around 98,000 unsuitable people have now been prevented from gaining access to children or the vulnerable, as a direct result of CRB checks in the past five years. A link has been provided below to the full reports of all strands of our customer research programme.

http://www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk/media/press_releases/crb_customer_satisfaction_at_a.aspx

I have provided a link below to the Freedom of Information log on our website in which all responses are published. Response number 12854 may be of interest to you as it provides statistical details relating to matches identified on List 99, the Protection of Children Act (POCA) list and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) list.

Please note that since 12^th October 2009, these lists are now known as the Adult Barred list and the Children's barred list. These lists are owned by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

http://www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk/your_rights/freedom_of_information/foi_log.aspx