Criminal Records Check and Security Clearance 

Criminal Records Checks (Disclosure).

Introduction

Certain roles within Tollfree Networks will require that the applicant is subject to Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure. Tollfree Networks comply with the CRB Code of Practice and undertake to treat all applicants for positions fairly and not to discriminate unfairly against any applicant subject to disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other
information. Candidates will be informed at the application stage if the role they are applying for will be subject to disclosure and the level of disclosure required.

Equal opportunity statement

Tollfree Networks is determined to make every effort to prevent discrimination or other unfair treatment against any of its employees, potential employees or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical / mental disability or offending background not constituting a risk to children and vulnerable adults.

People with criminal records applying for jobs or roles will be treated according to their merits and to any special criteria of the role (e.g. working with data relating to children and vulnerable adults).

Having a criminal record should not necessarily prevent a person from being assigned to any role, unless the offence itself debars the person. Where it is felt, however, that a recent or serious offence might mean that a person presents a risk to children or vulnerable adults then that person will not be recruited or assigned. Discrimination either in favour of or against those persons currently in employment who have disclosed their criminal record is not permissible (unless the offence debars them), and such information is strictly confidential.

In general terms only an offence listed in schedule 4 of Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 or a history of offences indicating current and relevant evidence which would call into question the integrity or reliability of the individual would result in someone not being appointed into a role.

What are Criminal Records Checks?

There are 3 levels of criminal records checks which can be carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in England and Wales and by Disclosure Scotland (DS) for Scotland.

These checks are referred to as Disclosures. Details of the different disclosures are shown below.

Details of Disclosures

Basic Disclosure

This is the lowest level of check and can be applied for by any individual directly to CRB/DS. It is currently only available through Disclosure Scotland.

The Basic Disclosure will show details of convictions held on the Police National Computer which are unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 or will state if there are no such convictions.

Standard Disclosure

These disclosures show details of all convictions both spent and unspent on record. It will also include cautions, formal reprimands and final warnings held on the PNC. It will also show if the individual is banned from working with children by virtue of their inclusion on the lists maintained by the DCSF and DoH of those considered unsuitable to work with children. Standard Disclosure will also show whether a person is banned from working with vulnerable adults by virtue of their inclusion on a list maintained by the DoH of those considered unsuitable to work with such people.

Enhanced Disclosure

The enhanced disclosure contains the same information as the Standard Disclosure. It may also contain non-conviction information from local police records which a chief police officer thinks may be relevant in connection with the position.

Explanation of legislation

ROA 1974

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The ROA makes provision for exemptions where entry into a particular profession or employment entitles employers to ask exempted questions under the act. 

Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 (Section 26 and Schedule 4)

This lists offences against children.

If a person has been convicted or cautioned for any of the offences on the list they may not work with children and young people.