Response sent via email

11^th March 2009

Dear Mr Brown,

Thank you for your request, received on 16^th February 2009 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 it's 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

Freedom of Information Team

FOI Reference Number: 11263

Information Requested:

As the CRB was established to provide disclosures for employment

and licensing purposes involving information held on the Police

National Computer (PNC) as well as other relevant information held

by other data sources, I am making a request under the Freedom of

Information Act 2000. regarding a similar service provided by ACPO

Criminal Records Office (ACRO).

Please would you provide the following information:

(a) electronic copies of any correspondence relating to the

establishment of the ACRO 'service';

(b) an explanation of why the "Police Certificate" service provided

by ACRO is not being delivered by the CRB.

(e) was the CRB consulted on the decision to allow ACPO to set up

this service and if so what was the CRB's response?

Response :

(a) electronic copies of any correspondence relating to the

establishment of the ACRO 'service';

The Criminal Records Bureau have not been consulted or involved in the establishment of ACRO.

(b) an explanation of why the "Police Certificate" service provided

by ACRO is not being delivered by the CRB.

The Criminal Records Bureau's access to the Police National Computer is granted by PNC Information Access Panel (PIAP - governed by ACRO) and doesn't enable the CRB to do this.

The Criminal Records Bureau remit is to assist UK employers in the recruitment process of individuals who will be working with children and vulnerable adults by issuing "Disclosures".  

The CRB issues Higher Level Disclosures for employment and licensing purposes, as provided for in Part V of the Police Act 1997. Higher Level Disclosures (Standard and Enhanced) can only be asked for in relation to positions that are included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA) (Exceptions) Order 1975. These positions/licensing requirements for which an employer/regulatory authority may ask to see spent as well as unspent conviction information, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer (PNC).

The CRB does not hold a copy of the Police National Computer (PNC) record of convictions. The system held by the CRB is known as a PNC Extract. The extract contains basic identifying details such as name and date of birth of persons included on the PNC. The extract does not contain any conviction information. The police force both own and maintain all information contained on the PNC.

(e) was the CRB consulted on the decision to allow ACPO to set up

this service and if so what was the CRB's response?

The Criminal Records Bureau have not been consulted.