Guidance

Filtering scenario guidance

Changes to the filtering rules that came in to force on October 28 2023, the following page explains the potential impact on DBS customers

Documents

Details

Alignment 

Updates to the Filtering rules, via the draft Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates: Relevant Matter) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023, will mean that unspent convictions and cautions will appear on checks even if they have previously been filtered off.  

This means that in some limited circumstances, a Standard or Enhanced check may now show more information than before. 

Where additional information does appear on a DBS check, the employer should consider the information when making a suitability decision. The employer can discuss the circumstances of the unspent conviction with the employee, consider any background information provided on the check, and take past performance into consideration. 

Updates to this page

Published 28 October 2023

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