Employers conducting "illegal" CRB checks

Fri 8 Aug 2008 at 2:57 PM

Some employers are submitting illegal checks on workers through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), BBC Radio has claimed.

Its investigation revealed some firms have been making requests unnecessarily on applicants to jobs they advertised.

Legally, checks by the bureau should only be conducted for certain posts, including working with children and vulnerable adults.

Currently there are no records of illegal checks. However, Anthony Scrivener QC told the BBC the law should be reviewed.

"You really can't rely on the goodwill of an employer if he's given this information," he warned.

Mr Scrivener added if employers are entitled to the information from a check "they should still exercise discretion".

The Home Office said CRB checks perform a vital role and have stopped more than 20,000 unsuitable people from getting certain jobs.

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