Do DBS Checks Show Family Convictions?
DBS checks are a type of background check, used in England and Wales to disclose the applicant’s criminal record history to their employer, or prospective employer.
When asking, does a DBS check show family convictions, it is important to understand what information is disclosed in a DBS check, especially in cases where there may be convictions of family members or a partner living in the same house.
Table of Contents
Do DBS Checks Show Family Convictions:
What if my family member has a criminal record?
DBS checks are only intended to disclose the criminal record history of the applicant. By default, family members’ information won’t be disclosed on the applicant’s DBS certificate. We’ll quickly go over the 3 different types of DBS check, and whether/how a family member’s information might end up on
Basic DBS Disclosure
Basic DBS checks will only disclose the applicant’s unspent convictions. They are accessible to anybody, regardless of role. For more info on spent and unspent convictions, visit our guide.
Basic DBS checks will never disclose the criminal records of family members.
Standard DBS Disclosure
Standard DBS checks will disclose any convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings that the applicant has, whether they are spent or unspent.
Standard DBS checks will never disclose the criminal records of family members.
Enhanced DBS Disclosure
Enhanced DBS checks are reserved for applicants working in roles involving contact with children (under-18s) and/or Vulnerable Adults (over-18s receiving care or healthcare). Just like Standard checks, these will disclose any convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings that the applicant has, whether they are spent or unspent.
However, Enhanced DBS checks have an extra stage to them – the local police forces that carry out the check have the option to disclose any additional information they have on-file for the applicant, as long as it’s relevant to the role being applied for. This can include allegations, ‘not guilty’ judgements, incidents that didn’t result in a criminal record, and 3rd party information – information held on people other than the applicant, including family members.
Local police information is rarely disclosed on DBS checks – whatever is disclosed must relate to the job role. For example, if you were applying for an Enhanced DBS check to become a school teacher, the local police wouldn’t disclose that your father has a criminal record for, say, theft. However, there’s a good chance they’d disclose if your husband was on the Children’s Barred List, since that relates to the role being applied for.
How can I tell what the local police will disclose?
The police’s decision-making process follows the flow-chart below. Follow the link to read the full document on the gov.uk website.
Can employers refuse to hire based on Local police Information?
The ultimate function of DBS checks is to safeguard vulnerable groups. As such, employers can consider any additional police information disclosed on a DBS certificate when it comes to making an employment decision.
Summary: Do DBS Checks Show Family Convictions?
Only Enhanced DBS checks have the opportunity to disclose family convictions, and only if they relate to the job role the DBS check is for. For Basic and Standard checks, family convictions will never be disclosed, under any circumstances.
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Further Reading
If you have found our page, “Do DBS checks show family convictions?” useful, we’ve linked some more resources below which may be of interest:
- Criminal Record Checks In The UK
- Important Things To Consider When Applying For A DBS Check
- What offences are never filtered from DBS checks?
About The Author
John Schofield-Antoncich
John has processed more applications than days he has been alive, and has become the DBS expert. Got a question? He knows the answer!