CRB checks are a political comfort blanket, so the government can be seen to have done something.

...........and CSCS cards

I can see no reason for anyone who is not dealing with "vulnerable people" to have a CRB check. It is only as good as the day it was checked and if the person has been caught at some time. If they are a very good criminal then they will come back OK which is probably worse because it leads to a false sense of security. For employees such as medical staff, teachers, social group leaders (cubs, scouts, etc) dealing with vulnerable people in our society, then, yes, it's just a security measure for appointing people and then it makes sense. It's fallible like everything, but it's the best we can do at the current time.

Totally agree that there are some occupations where DBS is right and proper.....hence DBS related law.

Work how you like.......as long as you have a CSCS card!

Only asking for the DBS numbers! How do they know who they belong to, or if that person will be a friend, brother etc using anothers number. I for one think you are right to challenge this. I assume they believe that this is an appropriate safegaurd however it is not practical or appropriate in its approach. Kevin

We wont be helping with any kids, if we were a school or nursery etc, we would be requiring DBS checks. Your job at college probably requires a DBS check

Sounds like Colossians 1:14 has (at this point) more gumption than me. I went through this performance myself about 3 years ago. Our engineers work from time to time in places of education and a handful of contractors have insisted on CRB/DBS checks being carried out. I too took advice from the appropriate agency and had it confirmed that as an employer we had no legal right to ask our employees to submit to CRB checks (based on the nature of our work - we work on equipment in plant-rooms etc and do so on very short-term basis only, think minutes or hours rather than days or weeks). In the end I gave up as my bosses were not interested in/had no stomach for the fight (against illegal CRB/DBS checking). Now all of our engineers are checked via Disclosure Scotland once every 18-24 months. Happily non have been reluctant to cooperate with the process which, happily, is remarkably efficient. I wish you strength in your fight against those who unreasonably demand these checks. I hope that you win but I must remain sceptical.

The only point I would make is...if (and it is a big if) your client knows more about how your staff have the potential to interact or have access to vulnerable people than the regulator who has commented on what you have said ....who would be right? My money is on the client.... The value of the check is a different question.

Agreeded...the point I am making is that you as a client have made that decision and have it in control...the information we have so far for this thread indicates (to me at least) that the information the client is aware of and the information given to the regulator to make a decision may be different... Than's all.. :)

i believe that it was intended to be a job creation and money making scheme and not much else Over the years I personally dealt with many 'special needs' and vulnerable people, especially females, in situations that were definitely sensitive and fell under the overall parameters of the CRB [DBS] however whilst electricians, gardeners, drivers etc. who had no real if any contact at all had to have such checks I was told by the local expert that I [who had long term personal and unsupervised/ unaccompanied contact in many many situations] did not have to have a check?! And 'why did I not need to have a check' I asked this so called expert [an expert who advised councils etc.]; and the answer was [wait for it - wait for it ] 'because U are H&Safety'! - additionally this expert did not know about the requirements to undertake a risk assessment This area is like most others e.g. it is more about making £ than it is about ensuring the safety of others

Toe I agree that such schemes are founded on very good principals & if managed properly and consistent standards are present they go a very long way to helping and protecting vulnerable people. However its the 'managing properly with ever-present consistent standards' that is the problem in my personal opinion - NB: I do not know the details of the PVG scheme so cannot comment directly E.G. Volunteers: Unpaid personal volunteers are wanted in all areas of society especially schools and similar and in the initial days where I was involved in many such situations [many many thousands of volunteers] the volunteers were told that CRB [DBS] checks were required and most volunteers went along with it and paying for such checks out of their own pockets However eventually there was a big backlash and many volunteers stopped giving their services so guess what happened; the need for mandatory DBS checks were dropped and talking to numbers of directors, managers etc. it was voiced that unpaid volunteers saved the various organisations lots and lots of money so it was best keeping unpaid volunteers - I am not saying that this happens in all areas all of the time, i am just giving an example NB: Unpaid personal volunteers are not covered via the HSE as I have proven time and again Best wishes

Toe we are on the same wave length and U are right, but until the systems are made to work as they were intended people, in my view, will have little real faith In your area do H&S people have to have such checks where they are in certain situations with vulnerable people noting the comments that were made to me?

I wonder why people go to dbs scotland for the check....even if from the UK? Unpaid volunteers get the check for free by the way....as long as they're not relatives...