Recommendation R23: Database access for identity verification
From The Bichard Inquiry Report, published 22 June 2004.
Recommendation
Registered Bodies, or the CRB, should be able to check passports and driving licences presented as proof of identity against the Passport Service and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) databases.
In brief (written by this site)
In May 2007, the Home Office reported that work on the recommendation was in progress, but stated that further work by the Criminal Records Bureau on formal data-sharing arrangements with the DVLA had been "put on hold" due to links with its wider identity management programme (Home Office, May 2007). The department had previously accepted the recommendation in December 2004, stating that provision for statutory data-sharing gateways to verify applicant identity was included in proposed legislation (Home Office response, Dec 2004).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Provision for statutory data-sharing gateways between the CRB and UKPS, DVLA and DWP for the purpose of verifying applicant identity is included in the current SOCPB.
Blanket government agreement does not establish acceptance or delivery by each addressee. Some response passages cover groups of recommendations.
Scope of the government response
The Government accepted all 31 recommendations collectively: the Home Secretary's written statement of 11 January 2005 records that "All 31 recommendations were accepted by the Government when the Inquiry reported in June 2004". No document states an acceptance decision for any single recommendation. The response shown against each recommendation is the Home Office's answer to it in the first progress report, sent to Sir Michael Bichard on 22 December 2004 and placed in the Library of the House on 11 January 2005. The Government then reported against the recommendations three more times, in November 2005, May 2006 and May 2007; the updates shown are taken from those reports.
Delivery
Home Office says in progress (22 May 2007)
The future model for identity checking is substantially linked to the Home Office’s ID Management Programme, a major programme of work in its own right, and therefore any further work by the CRB on formal data-sharing arrangements with the DVLA have been put on hold.
From: Bichard Inquiry Recommendations: Fourth Progress Report
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Home Office
Response, delivery statement