34 Response Not Accepted Self-assessed

DBS certificates for overseas work

Recommendation

The Home Office should introduce legislation permitting the Disclosure and Barring Service to provide enhanced certificates to UK nationals and residents of England and Wales applying for: 1. work or volunteering with UK-based organisations, where the recruitment decision is taken outside the UK; or 2. work or volunteering with organisations based outside the UK, in each case where the work or volunteering would be a regulated activity if in the UK.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the Home Office's statement on 21 January 2021, the UK government would continue to publicise the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) and improve employers' understanding of its use, rather than introducing new legislation to permit the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to provide enhanced certificates for overseas work. This position was reiterated on 17 June 2021. According to the government's formal response, the recommendation was not accepted. No further published evidence has been identified since May 2023.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
E
Response
Not Accepted
Not Accepted UK Government
22 May 2023

On 21 January 2021, the Home Office stated that the UK government would continue to work with ACRO to publicise the existence of the International Child Protection Certificate, and to improve employers' understanding of the certificate and when it can be used. On 17 June 2021, the UK government stated that its position had not changed in relation to this recommendation. A second Inquiry recommendation on the geographical reach of the Disclosure and Barring Service scheme was made (see row 69).

Read Full Response
Source
Inquiry IICSA
Report Children Outside the United Kingdom Phase 2 Investigation Report 30 Jan 2020
View Source
Responsible Bodies
Home Office Primary
Themes & Tags
Child exploitation criminalisation Police Vetting Inconsistencies DBS International Safeguarding
Recommendation age 6.1 yrs
Last formal update 1037 days ago