Greater Use of DBS
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government enables any person engaging an individual to work or volunteer with children on a frequent basis to check whether or not they have been barred by the Disclosure and Barring Service from working with children. These arrangements should also apply where the role is undertaken on a supervised basis.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartWe accept subject to further assessment of feasibility and impact, taking into account the findings of the Bailey Review of Disclosure and Barring Regime published in April 2023.
Progress Timeline
Crime and Policing Bill includes provisions to remove supervision exemption from regulated activity definition. Bill passed Commons committee stage May 2025 and is currently in Lords Committee stage (January 2026). Royal Assent expected later in 2026.
Crime and Policing Bill includes provisions to remove supervision exemption from regulated activity definition, extending access to barred list checks.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Professor Alexis Jay told Home Affairs Committee that £187m was spent on IICSA and "to date none of its final recommendations had been implemented." Called for "full implementation" saying "get it done."
View detailed findings
As of December 2024, none of the 20 final report recommendations had been implemented. The previous government's response was described by Prof Jay as "very weak and, at times, apparently disingenuous."