The data protection act will cover this I expect and will need HR input. Is there nothing that can be done to allow information to confirm a CRB was undertaken and was cleared? I expect there's a good reason why they require this, e.g. Is the work in a sensitive site, working with vunerable people environment etc?

I tend to agree that CRB checks are too frequently required like this. Obviously you need to discuss this with your contractor armed with the information as in the end of the day they are asking for this and may tell you it's a requirement by the client? It's 1 thing to challenge the extra work & expense but another to challenge the reasons why as it may be a condition of the contract!

Ive tried explaining to the contractor (a very large uk construction company), with my documented back-up from the CRB, that we are not legally allowed to ask for checks, indeed the CRB Officer said there are quite serious consequences for misapplication of CRB checks, for which he advised me not to go forward with the procedure. I therefore have nothing to do with our company obtaining CRB checks. My M.D. knows the score on CRB but he is in a situation where if they are not done, the box on the contractors paperwork would not be ticked....hence potential loss of contract!!! The whole CRB thing with major construction companies seem to be follow the leader....as soon as one company comes up with something the rest seem to follow!!!!

Bob your right! As I said, I dont have anything to do with CRB procedure at my place after the warning and quite clear instruction that I would be breaking the law by asking for checks. As are the contractor breaking the law for asking for the checks! As you said its all about the money!!!!!!!!

The theme behind this topic suggests that a lot of contractors and their clients know little about CRB checks, including their limitations, but seem to think that insisting on them being made for as many people as possible will somehow avoid problems. The limitations of the CRB system apparently include the fact that it only identifies people who have been convicted (or cautioned?) of specific types of offences. Also, some of these people subsequently use different names, move to different areas and give incorrect details in order to avoid being identified by the system. In addition, the CRB process can take considerable time. It's worth a look at http://www.direct.gov.uk...tartinganewjob/DG_195809 which includes a summary of the types of jobs for which CRB clearance is needed, especially the following: working regularly with children or vulnerable people, in an establishment that is wholly or mainly for children, or in healthcare. Note the words 'regularly' and 'with'. Thus, for example, though my work for a local authority involves various visits to its schools, my employer's view is that CRB checking is not required for me because I don't work with children or in a school. Also, when I visit a school I am invariably with one or more members of its staff. By contrast CRB checks would be needed for a visiting music teacher, especially if they provide unsupervised one-to-one tuition for pupils. The same goes for caretakers or cleaners who regularly work in schools and, understandably, are regarded by pupils as trustworthy members of staff - as was the case with the two Soham schoolgirls murdered by their school's caretaker in 2002. Also there is some analogy between CRB checks for people and PAT tests for electrical appliances. Even though an appliance may have passed a PAT test, its users should remain vigilant for subsequent signs of damage or defects. Similar analagous advice applies regarding people who have received CRB clearance, as has been demonstrated in recent years by highly publicised cases of female nursery workers who have abused young children at their workplaces. Thus, supervisors and colleagues should be alert for suspicious behaviour by others and then able to take appropriate action.

Didn't Cameron mention unnecessary CRB checks in one of his speeches which included the health and safety gone mad mantra?