DBS Barred Lists Grow by over 4000

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) are responsible for ensuring employers and voluntary organisations have the information they need to make safe recruitment decisions. Each year they process well over 5 million DBS Checks for organisations in England and Wales (Scotland’s checks are managed by Disclosure Scotland). As a non-departmental government body, the DBS must provide a performance report each year for scrutiny by Parliament. These annual reports cover everything from sustainability efforts to staff wages. Some of the most important figures discussed are the number of individuals listed on the Barred Lists. 

 

What is a Barred List? 

Simply put, a Barred List is a list of individuals barred from working with certain groups of people. There are two Barred Lists, the Adult Barred List and Child Barred List, and since December 2012, the DBS has been responsible for maintaining these lists. Individuals named on either (or both) lists are barred from carrying our ‘regulated activity’ with that demographic. This means a barred individual is breaking the law if they seek or engage in regulated activity with the group that they are barred from working or volunteering with.   

Employers and volunteer managers also have a responsibility to ensure barred individuals do not engage in regulated activity. You are breaking the law if you knowingly employ someone in regulated activity with a group that they are barred from working or volunteering with. The purpose of DBS Checks is to ensure organisations involved in regulated activity have the information available to stop this from happening.  

 

Increase on the Barred Lists 

According to the most recent DBS annual report, the number of individuals listed on one or both barred lists have increased: 

Number of individuals  Adults’ Barred List  Children’s Barred List  One or both Barred Lists 

2020-21  58,342  73,675  81,941 

2019-20  56,136  70,673  77,921 

These figures show that 4,020 more individuals have been added to one or both Barred Lists over the past twelve months. Whilst this seems like a large figure, it actually represents one of the smallest increases to the Barred List’s numbers since the formation of the DBS in 2012, which is good to see: 

 Year  Adults’ Barred List  Children’s Barred List  One or both Barred Lists  Total % Increase on previous year

2012-13  45,296  49,373  51,640  6.51 

2013-14  46,379  51,599  54,444  5.43 

2014-15  47,460  53,756  57,132  4.94 

2015-16  48,772  56,497  60,455  5.82 

2016-17  50,018  59,530  64,044  5.94 

2017-18  51,269  62,056  67,054  4.71 

2018-19  53,998  67,313  73,589  9.75 

2019-20  56,136  70,673  77,921  5.89 

2020-21  58,342  73,675  81,941  5.16 

 

The reasons for the increases each year is not published in the DBS annual report. There are hundreds of factors that may contribute to this. As a DBS Umbrella Body, we are inclined to believe that the steady increases each year are down to improvements in the awareness of barring itself and the work the DBS do.  

On top of this, safeguarding in the workplace has become a much higher priority for organisations in recent years. Following several high-profile abuse cases that have come to light in various sectors, employers and voluntary organisations have become much more aware of the duty of care they carry for those they work with and their employees. 

If you would like more information about how to actually make a barring referral to the DBS, you can find more information in our Knowledge Hub article here.  

For more information about how Personnel Checks background screening solutions can aid your organisation, get in touch! You can give us a call on 01254 355688 or drop us an email at letstalk@personnelchecks.co.uk 

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