Do I Need A DBS Check To Get A Personal Licence?
If you’re opening a bar, pub, or club, or working as a designated premises supervisor you’ll need a personal licence. It might surprise you that you will also need a DBS check as part of the application process.
This guide will help ensure that you can get your application processed as quickly as possible by answering any questions you may have about DBS checks and personal licences.
Do You Need A DBS Check Before Getting A Personal Licence?
If you own or work in an establishment that sells alcohol, then there must be a designated person who has a personal licence. Applying for a personal licence involves training which means that the person in charge of an establishment can serve alcohol professionally and responsibly. Personal licences may also be required if you hold a one-off event serving alcohol.
You’ll need to complete a basic DBS check as part of a personal licence application, these are carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
What Is A Basic DBS Check?
A DBS check is a check of a person’s criminal history, to see if they have any unspent convictions against their name. Criminal convictions become spent after a certain length of time, as stipulated by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, once convictions are spent they’re removed from a person’s record. However, if those crimes involve more serious offences, such as those involving vulnerable adults or children, they will remain on their record.
How Do I Apply For A Basic DBS Check?
An individual can easily apply for a Basic DBS Check, unlike standard or enhanced checks. You’ll need to provide the following documents and information as part of the application process –
- Your name, date of birth and nationality
- Proof of your addresses for the last 5 years, including the dates when you resided at them
- A form of identification such as a driver’s licence or passport
You can apply for a DBS check through ourselves, the online application is easy to navigate and simple to complete. The application process only takes 24-48 hours to complete, however, it can take up to 14 days if there are further enquiries to be made.
Can I Get A Personal Licence If I Have A Criminal Record?
Having criminal convictions on your record doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be unable to get a personal licence. The licensing authority will look at any offences they deem relevant and make a decision based on those. The Licencing Act 2003 states the relevant offences. These relate to or involve the following –
- Controlled drugs
- Certain sexual offences
- A serious crime
- Violent offences
- Serious dishonesty including fraud or duty evasion
If you’d like to find out more about DBS checks and personal licences or if you want to ask any other questions regarding DBS checks, then get in touch with one of our expert advisors today.