DBS Checks On Your Family Member or Partner
Many employers use DBS checks to verify their worker’s criminal records and vet them for responsible jobs. DBS checks are also used to provide a safeguarding check for people working with vulnerable adults and children.
As the DBS check grew popular, many people started to get them for more personal reasons. For instance, some people may request one to verify a family or partner’s criminal record. However, if in the case of requesting a DBS check for family members or partners, you have to take a different route to the usual one for employers.
How To Request Checks For Your Family Member Or Partner
There are multiple reasons why you may want to run a check on someone close to you. If you have any concerns about someone or the safety of that person, you can request a check in the following situations:
Claire’s Law
The Violence Disclosure scheme was introduced in 2014, called Claire’s law. The scheme was named after a woman called Claire, who was murdered by her partner in 2009. People were outraged by the murder, as the culprit had a violent criminal past. Her family and friends demanded a means for people to check the background of a loved one for a history of violent crimes to prevent this kind of event from happening again.
Under Claire’s Law, you can carry out a check by:
- Contacting the police, explaining the situation, and providing primary details
- Proving who you are by giving a valid form of identification
- Making an appointment
- Providing all the details of the person.
A criminal record check will be run for you, and you will be contacted when the results are in. The police are required to ensure you and any relevant parties involved are safe as soon as possible if a violent history is revealed.
Sarah’s Law
Sarah’s law was introduced to ensure that parents or guardians can run a check on those in the care of a child. The law was named after Sarah Payne a young girl who was murdered in 1995.
Under Sarah’s law, the police will check for child sexual offenses or endangerment history. The police, however, will only run a check if they believe that it is in the child’s best interest. The results of any checks must be kept confidential and not disclosed anywhere else.
Why These Laws And Not A DBS Check?
Although these laws are helpful, they can also be incomplete and take a long time to process, unlike a straightforward DBS check. Unfortunately, the DBS will not run a check on anybody if it’s not work-related.
Claire’s and Sarah’s Laws are the ideal checks for personal reasons, but if you want to run a check for work-related reasons, then you need to go through the DBS.
How do you apply for a DBS Check?
The DBS runs three different levels of DBS checks, Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks. An Enhanced DBS check will dig deep into the criminal record, and the local police might choose to disclose any other relevant information on your DBS certificate.
You can apply for DBS checks online using our fast and efficient service. Get in touch today to find out more.
