Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
Criminal record checks are one important part of The Scout Association's approach to the safeguarding of young people. The Association considers the safety of young people its paramount concern.
The fact that adults in Scouting are subject to checks also reinforces that Scouting is a safe organisation for young people.
Who should undergo a criminal record check?
The Scout Associations Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) state that no person aged 18 or over may be permitted to undertake any responsibility or involvement within Scouting until the appropriate enquiries have been made.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the enquires must include a Criminal Records check in the case of a person who:
Wishes to become a member or associate member
Will have unsupervied access to young people
Will have involovement wth the handing or management of funds
Will be assisting with overnight activities
Will be helping out more than once a month
As a result of these rules it is our group policy to request all parents to complete a CRB form so that parents can help provide travel arrangements on Scouting activities; attend camps and other day trips with the Group and be included on the parent helper rota's.
Repeat Criminal Records checks
Criminal Record checks provide a snapshot in time and have limited validity. In the Association a criminal record check is valid for up to 5 years.
Where are Criminal Record checks valid?
The Scout Assocation does NOT accept Criminal Record checks from other organisations. This is because the nature of the information that may be disclosed on a Scout Criminal Record check may be different from that provided to another organisation.
Helpers and criminal record checks
Adults helping out should be made aware of the opportunities available to them and should be considered for the role of Section Assistant.
Parents should be routinely checked.
What is included in a criminal records check?
All spent and unspent recordable convictions (including police cautions) together with any relevant police intellegance will be shown on a criminal records check disclosure.
In England and Wales minor traffic offences will not generally be included on a disclosure.
What happens with the information from a criminal records check?
The Criminal Records Bureau send a copy of each disclosure both directly to the applicant and to The Scout Assocation's headquarters.
In cases where the disclosure does not contain any relevant information (i.e. it is clear), headquarters informs the relevant District of that fact.
Where the disclosure contains relevant information, headquarters will inform the relevant District Commissioner in order that appropriate appointment decision may be made. The District Commissioner may inform members of the Local Appointment Advisory Committee in order that they may assist with the decision making process.
Information obtained from a disclosre must be erased from all records within 6 months of receipt.
