Basic DBS Checks for businesses

A Basic DBS certificate provides employers with vital information about a candidate, revealing any unspent criminal history on their record. The Basic Disclosure is the quickest, cheapest, and least complicated check that can be carried out. With Personnel Checks you can be onboarded and processing checks in 10 minutes. Get your results in as little as 24 hours.

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Basic DBS checks

Whether you know them as Basic DBS’, Basic CRB’s or Basic Disclosures, they are all the same thing. This is the lowest level of check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). But this doesn’t mean they are any less valuable to you as an employer.

What is a Basic DBS Check?

In England and Wales, a Basic Disclosure is a search against the Police National Computer (PNC). A Disclosure Scotland Basic is a search against the Scottish Criminal History System (CHS). Both will show any ‘unspent’ convictions on someone’s record, as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Employers can then use this information to make safe and effective recruitment or suitability decisions.

Why would i need a basic dbs check?

For any staff or volunteers who don't qualify for Standard or Enhanced checks, the Basic DBS can provide that extra level of confidence. This is ideal for potential hires performing a sensitive role in your business but isn’t defined as ‘regulated activity’.

Not only can they give you peace of mind, but they’re also needed for many job roles and licence applications. Security staff, taxi operators and personal licensees all need Basic DBS certificates in place before starting work, as well as hundreds of other roles.

How to Apply for a Basic Disclosure

Once we have obtained some company details and your applicants’ names, we will send the applicants an email with a username and password.

This will allow them to log into our secure website to complete and submit their application form online.

The applicant must then present 2 ID documents to a nominated ‘ID Verifier’ within your business, who is required to log into our secure website and confirm which documents have been seen and verified.

The application is then sent to be processed and the certificate is usually dispatched within a week.

It is standard practice for the Basic Check certificate to be issued to the applicant’s home address. However, with their consent, we can make arrangements for the certificates to be issued to an employer at a separate address if required. A Basic Disclosure is not job-specific and can be used more than once.

How it works

Step 1: Registration

Our rapid onboarding process means we can get you set up and ready to process checks in as little as 10-minutes!
Step 2: Applications

Applications are created and completed by your applicants. ID is checked and the forms are submitted to the DBS.
Step 3: Screening

The Disclosure and Barring Sevice (DBS) receive the application via our secure portal. They begin the screening process.
Step 4: Result Received

DBS Checks can be completed in as little as 24 hours and confirmation is emailed directly to you!

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Basic DBS FAQs

Basic DBS Checks don’t last for a specific period of time. The information provided on a DBS Certificate is only correct for the period of time preceding its issue. Most organisations have their own rules around how often a DBS Check should be carried out. This is usually between 1-3 years.
Basic DBS Checks cannot be upgraded or converted into a higher level of DBS Check. DBS Certificates are only correct at the time of issue. If more detailed information is needed a new DBS Check would need to be processed.
You cannot register for the Update Service with a Basic DBS Check. The Update Service is only available to holders of Standard or Enhanced DBS Certificates. You can find more information here.
A Basic DBS Check will only reveal unspent convictions and cautions. A Standard DBS Check is more comprehensive and will also include details on any spent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings.
Online ID Verification is an additional way to confirm an applicant’s identity during an online DBS Check. Online ID Verification is built into the Personnel Checks product.
Applicants simply upload their required ID to our Online ID portal and take a selfie. Advanced technology then verifies this person is who they say they are.
Once an applicant has completed this successfully, their data is automatically populated onto their application form, straight from the documents they've uploaded.
This makes the application process quicker and significantly reduces the risk of typos and other errors by removing the need for manual data entry.

A Basic DBS Check involves a search of the Police National Computer. This will contain details of any convictions and conditional cautions considered to be ‘unspent’ under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This is the lowest level of criminal record check available.
Basic DBS Checks hold no eligibility criteria. This means that anyone can apply for one. If you need to carry out Basic DBS Checks for your employees, you can submit a contact form here.
Basic DBS Checks are the cheapest criminal record check available but they aren’t free. The list price for a Basic DBS Check is £43.99 which discounts available for bulk orders.
For a Basic DBS application 2 forms of ID need to be provided. The most common combination of documents is a driving licence and bank statement. You can find a full list of valid ID here.
Our price for an Enhanced DBS Check is £39.60, VAT inclusive.
With our prices, what you see is what you get. We have no hidden fees and we don’t charge extra for ‘fast-track’ services that don’t exist.