Criminal Records Trade Body (CRTB)

The Criminal Records Trade Body (CRTB) is a group of UK-based criminal record check professionals and was founded in conjunction with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in 2018. You can see here information about the launch on UK GOV news: Announcing the new UK Criminal Records Trade Body (CRTB) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The CRTB is open to all PBSA member organisations registered with the DBS, Disclosure Scotland and Access NI. Working together to promote a culture of safeguarding and referral. The CRTB membership represents nearly half of all criminal record checks that are processed in the UK.

Purpose

The Europe & Africa Council Subcommittee, the Criminal Records Trade Body operates to provide an authoritative and independent voice, of PBSA members who are registered agents of at least one of the three UK criminal record checking agencies who service UK and international clients with criminal record check information as part of their background checking process for employment purposes, in the UK.

The Criminal Records Trade Body Subcommittee will:

1. Work collectively with Government agencies representing the United Kingdom Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Disclosure Scotland, and Access Northern Ireland (AccessNI);
2. Support the UK's safeguarding agenda;
3. Encourage the adoption of enhanced identity verification processes;
4. Support candidates and users to understand the eligibility checks, and highlight the work of JobsAware (www.jobsaware.co.uk) in preventing employment screening scams;
5. Contribute and comment on the development of policy and legislation;
6. Promote industry practices and awareness of overseas criminal record checks

Reporting

The Criminal Records Trade Body Subcommittee will report to the Europe & Africa Government Relations Committee.

Meetings

The Criminal Records Trade Body Subcommittee will meet every 6 weeks with government agencies, every six weeks with its PBSA members only, and as needed to support the needs of the Subcommittee.

Configuration

The Criminal Records Trade Body shall include:

1. The subcommittee will have 2 Co-Chairs who share responsibility for leading, each serving a 2-year staggered term. To ensure continuity, the Co-Chairs, whenever possible should not start or finish their terms at the same time. The Co-Chairs will be approved by the Council Leadership.
   1. The initial terms may be 1 and 2 years or 2 and 3 years to allow for staggering at the outset.
   2. Vacancies in Co-Chair positions will be filled by the Council Leadership with recommendations from the Subcommittee.
2. No more than 12 delegates in total, including the Co-Chairs and excluding representatives from Government Agencies and PBSA staff.
   1. The Co-Chairs, and all delegates are required to be registered agents of DBS, Disclosure Scotland and/or Access NI.
      1. DBS and Disclosure Scotland agencies have the authority to suspend a member’s participation related to any ongoing investigations, pending the outcome of the investigation.
   2. Individuals on the Subcommittee shall be permitted to serve a 3-year term, which may be extended in 1-year terms, if there are no applicants waiting to join. Co-Chairs will start new terms as needed to serve out their roles.
   3. It’s preferred that the Subcommittee not transition all at the same time/year so there is some continuity in ongoing efforts.
   4. There should be no more than 1 delegate from each member organization serving on the CRTB. Member organizations will have a primary delegate, if the primary delegate is unable to attend the member organization may identify a deputy in their absence.
   5. Europe & Africa Council Leadership will approve new members based on application date and diversity in overall members on the CRTB.

Resources

DBS - Disclosure and Barring Service

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service

DS - Disclosure Scotland

https://www.disclosure.gov.scot/

ANI - AccessNI

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/accessni-criminal-record-checks/apply-accessni-check