You can appeal to the Disclosure and Barring Service ( DBS ) if they: make a decision to add you to the list of people barred from certain roles have previously added you to the list of people barred from certain roles and you want them to review the decision You can raise a dispute with DBS if they make a mistake on a DBS check. The mistake or decision can be changed if the appeal or dispute is successful. An employer or licensing authority can also appeal a DBS check if they’ve talked to the applicant first.

Dispute a mistake on your DBS certificate

You can raise a dispute for a standard or enhanced check if you believe there’s been a mistake in either: the records provided, like wrong or irrelevant information on convictions personal information, like your name There is a different process for disputing information on a basic check certificate . The police may ask for fingerprints to prove your identity if there’s a mistake in the records. How to raise a dispute Report the mistake within 3 months of the date on the certificate. For mistakes in records Fill in the certificate dispute form . For mistakes in personal information Fill in Section A of the certificate dispute form , or call the Disclosure and Barring Service ( DBS ) customer services team. Dispute a DBS update service certificate change Call customer services if you subscribe to the DBS update service and want to dispute the status of a certificate. They’ll send out the forms you need to raise a dispute. DBS customer services Telephone: 0300 0200 190 Minicom: 0300 0200 192 Welsh: 0300 0200 191 International: +44 151 676 9390 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges Send the form to: DBS Disputes Customer Services FREEPOST RTHU-TRJY-KSHY PO Box 165 Liverpool L69 3JD Independent Monitor review DBS will work with the police to make a decision about your dispute. If the police do not agree there’s a mistake, the dispute will be referred to the Independent Monitor only if the objection is that information is: not relevant to the position applied for should not be included in the certificate The enhanced certificate will be corrected if the Independent Monitor agrees with your dispute. You must raise a dispute with DBS before a referral to the Independent Monitor is made. Contact the Independent Monitor IndependentMonitor@homeoffice.gov.uk Independent Monitor Home Office 3rd Floor Peel 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF

Appeal against a new barring decision

You can appeal to a tribunal to reverse a barring list decision. The tribunal may remove someone from the barred list if it agrees, or refer you back to DBS for a further decision. You can appeal if: you were automatically added following a relevant caution or conviction you believe DBS has made a legal mistake DBS barred you based on information that was wrong It’s up to the tribunal whether they hear your appeal. Contact the Upper Tribunal to appeal against a new barring decision in England or Wales. Upper Tribunal adminappeals@justice.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7071 5662 Fax: 020 7071 5663 Find out about call charges Administrative Appeals Chamber 5th Floor Rolls Building 7 Rolls Buildings Fetter Lane London EC4A 1NL Contact the Care Tribunal to appeal against a new barring decision in Northern Ireland. Care Tribunal in Northern Ireland tribunalsunit@courtsni.gov.uk Telephone: 02890 327703 Find out about call charges Care Tribunal Tribunal Hearing Centre 2nd Floor, The Annex Royal Courts of Justice Chichester Street Belfast BT1 3JF

Appeal against an existing barring decision

You can ask the Disclosure and Barring Service ( DBS ) to review a barring decision if: you were automatically added to the barred list following a relevant caution or conviction you believe DBS has made a legal mistake DBS barred you based on information that was wrong You can also ask for a review if your circumstances change after the minimum barred period. The minimum barred period is: Age Minimum barred period Under 18 1 year 18 to 24 5 years 25 or over 10 years You can use the following evidence to prove that your circumstances have changed: medical reports a successful appeal against a conviction a specialist assessment Contact DBS to ask for a review. It’s up to them whether they choose to review. DBS helpline Telephone: 03000 200190 Find out about call charges Appeal against the outcome of a DBS review You can appeal to a tribunal if you asked DBS to review a barring list decision, and they either: refused to conduct a review decided to keep you on the barred list after a review The tribunal may remove a person from the barred list if it agrees with the appeal. It’s up to the tribunal whether they hear the appeal. Contact the Upper Tribunal to appeal against a DBS barred list review in England or Wales. Upper Tribunal adminappeals@justice.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7071 5662 Fax: 020 7071 5663 Find out about call charges Administrative Appeals Chamber 5th Floor Rolls Building 7 Rolls Buildings Fetter Lane London EC4A 1NL Contact the Care Tribunal to appeal against a DBS barred list review in Northern Ireland. Care Tribunal tribunalsunit@courtsni.gov.uk Telephone: 02890 327703 Find out about call charges Care Tribunal Tribunal Hearing Centre 2nd Floor, The Annex Royal Courts of Justice Chichester Street Belfast BT1 3JF

Report a problem about a criminal record check or barring decision

Overview

You can appeal to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if they:

make a decision to add you to the list of people barred from certain roles
have previously added you to the list of people barred from certain roles and you want them to review the decision

You can raise a dispute with DBS if they make a mistake on a DBS check.

The mistake or decision can be changed if the appeal or dispute is successful.

An employer or licensing authority can also appeal a DBS check if they’ve talked to the applicant first.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Report a problem about a criminal record check or barring decision

Overview

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Cookies on GOV.UK

Report a problem about a criminal record check or barring decision

Overview

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK