R20 Response Accepted

Standards for police vetting checks

Recommendation

HMIC should develop, with ACPO and the CRB, the standards to be observed by police forces in carrying out vetting checks. These should cover the intelligence databases to be searched, the robustness of procedures, guidance, training, supervision and audit.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. DBS introduced digital identity verification using UK passports.
Sources
Government response (2004-06-22): Accepted Source: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2004-06-22/debates/3637ce59-cd9a-462c-8b69-a29dc01e93a2/BichardInquiryReport Text: The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir Michael's main recommendations and will act on them immediately." Implementation le Progress update (2025-02-01): Completed DBS introduced digital identity verification using UK passports. Completing its 2020-2025 strategy with automation of Standard and Enhanced checks. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service Progress update (2006-11-08): Completed Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent. Established the legislative framework for comprehensive vetting and barring checks for those working with children and vulnerable adults. Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/47/contents
How was this evidence gathered?
Evidence searched by baseline-data-v1 on 26 May 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Response
Accepted
Accepted Home Office
22 Jun 2004

The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir Michael's main recommendations and will act on them immediately." Implementation led to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (now the Disclosure and Barring Service). By February 2007, 21 of the 31 recommendations had been fully or substantially completed. See Hansard, 22 June 2004.

Read Full Response
Note: Government responded with a single statement accepting all 31 recommendations. Individual per-recommendation responses were not published separately.
Progress Timeline
Home Office states: Official Report
01 Feb 2025

DBS introduced digital identity verification using UK passports. Completing its 2020-2025 strategy with automation of Standard and Enhanced checks.

Source
Home Office states: Official Report
08 Nov 2006

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 received Royal Assent. Established the legislative framework for comprehensive vetting and barring checks for those working with children and vulnerable adults.

Source
Source
Inquiry Bichard Inquiry
Report The Bichard Inquiry Report 22 Jun 2004
View Source
Responsible Bodies
HMICFRS Primary
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services Primary
Themes & Tags
Police Vetting Inconsistencies Vetting Police Intelligence
Recommendation age 21.9 yrs
Last formal update 484 days ago