DBS Checks in the UK Are Not Fit for Purpose. Safeguarding Must Come First

The current DBS system is often slow, confusing and expensive to administer. Of course, this is not a simple issue, and there are important legal and ethical questions involved but safeguarding children cannot be secondary to bureaucracy. If safeguarding truly matters, then the systems that support it must be designed accordingly.

The Current Problems with DBS Checks in the UK

Across the safeguarding sector, including charities, small businesses, schools and holiday camps, the same challenges are repeatedly encountered.

DBS Checks Can Be Unpredictably Slow

DBS checks can be returned the same day, but they can also take several weeks. There is no guaranteed turnaround time and limited visibility for applicants or employers once a check is submitted. For roles that involve direct responsibility for children, these delays can be significant. Programmes may be postponed, staffing levels reduced, and safeguarding-critical roles left unfilled while organisations wait for clearance. I have had to cancel contracts as DBS checks did not come through in time! This last happened in Summer 2025! And we have also had to stop taking bookings on camps as getting staff at late notice with clear DBS checks was not possible!

Costs Are Confusing and Often Underestimated

From December 2024, the official DBS fee for an Enhanced DBS check is £49.50. Standard and Basic checks cost £21.50. Being on the DBS Update Service costs an individual a crazy £16 per year. Volunteer checks presently remain free of the government fee. Source: UK Government, DBS fee changes However, most organisations cannot submit DBS checks directly and must use umbrella bodies or third-party providers, many of which charge additional administration fees. As a result, the actual total cost to an employer for a paid enhanced check can be near £70 per check! For small businesses, charities and community organisations, these costs, combined with the administrative time required, can become a genuine barrier to safe recruitment.

Rules on Validity and Re-Use Are Unclear

DBS certificates do not technically expire. And different organisations have very different rules on what they accept and how often they will do a new check on existing staff. Many organisations insist on new checks every one to three years because the rules around validity and re-use are unclear. The DBS Update Service was introduced to allow checks to be kept up to date and reused across multiple roles. But awareness and confidence in the system remain inconsistent. This results in individuals undergoing multiple DBS checks for similar roles, often within short timeframes. Individuals get frustrated as they don't understand why they have to go through the same process for multiple organisations. This duplication does not improve safeguarding. It simply adds cost, delay and confusion.

We Must Prioritise Safeguarding Over Process

Safeguarding raises really difficult questions. Data protection, individual rights and proportionality all matter. However, when the role involves working directly with children, the balance must clearly favour safeguarding. Data protection concerns and procedural caution can slow down legitimate safeguarding checks without meaningfully improving safety. This risks undermining the very purpose of the DBS system. The system should prioritise and engrain safeguarding from the start, not balance it against anything that dilutes it!

Lessons from Abroad: Efficiency is Possible

While the UK remains tangled in red tape, other countries prove that criminal record checks don't have to be a gauntlet of delays.

In Germany, the Führungszeugnis (Certificate of Conduct) is a model of predictability. For a flat fee of roughly €13—and often free for volunteers—citizens can secure their clearance through a streamlined online portal. Similarly, France offers their criminal record extract (bulletin n°3) entirely free of charge, with digital delivery often taking just a few days.

These aren't just "different" systems; they are more accessible ones. They demonstrate that high safeguarding standards don't require high financial barriers or administrative headaches.

Sources: German Federal Office of Justice   French Public Services Portal

A Blueprint for a Better DBS

We don't need a total overhaul; we need a system that actually supports the people trying to do the right thing. To ensure safeguarding remains our genuine priority, we should demand:

• Service Standards with Teeth: No more "weeks of waiting." We need predictable turnaround times and real-time tracking for every application.

• Transparent Pricing: Small businesses and charities shouldn't be penalized with "umbrella" fees. Costs should be low, flat, and transparent.

• The "One and Done" Principle: Make the DBS Update Service the default. Automatic enrollment would end the "check on a check" cycle that currently frustrates so many applicants.

• Digital-First Verification: A simple, low-cost digital "status check" would allow employers to verify a staff member instantly without triggering a full, expensive re-disclosure.

Safeguard our children

Safeguarding children is complex, and there are no simple answers. However, one principle should be clear. When a system designed to protect children becomes slow, confusing and costly to administer, it is no longer serving its purpose as well as it should. There is a better way. Other countries demonstrate that criminal record checks can be affordable, accessible and reliable. The UK government must strengthen the DBS system by prioritising safeguarding over all else. Safeguarding must always come first. The systems behind it should reflect that.