HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc92-3W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for criminal records checks have been outstanding for more than three weeks, broken down by sector. [163336]

Ms Blears

As at 29 February 2004, there are 30,933 applications that are over three weeks old and are currently being processed by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). This represents approximately four days' work for the Bureau. Approximately 60,000 other applications are over three weeks old and with the customer. This figure is not included in the total because the Bureau is unable to process these applications on the basis that it is awaiting further information from the applicant. In many cases, the Bureau will not receive information from the applicant and the application is suspended, pending withdrawal.

Information is not available to provide the breakdown by sector sought by the hon Member for Winchester. Disclosure applications are processed in the order in which they are received and no sector is given priority over any other. The CRB computer system was not designed to capture information in the format requested, because there was no anticipated need to do so. Although the business sector of the Registered Body that countersigns the application is recorded on receipt, this is to enable the Bureau to undertake trend analysis. Any conclusions based on this would not be expected to provide the hon. Member for Winchester with the information he seeks, because it would not evaluate the performance of one sector against another during processing.

Overall, the Criminal Records Bureau has been achieving and in some cases exceeding its public service standards since last June. The Agency is issuing 83.76 per cent. of all Disclosures within three weeks and 91–92 per cent. within public service standards.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions applicant details supplied by the Criminal Records Bureau to the police have led to conviction details being matched mistakenly with an applicant. [163337]

Ms Blears

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not provide applicant details to the police during the matching process and the answer to the hon. Member for Winchester's question is none. The Bureau uses an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) to compare the personal details that have been provided by the applicant against existing PNC records. From 1 January 2003 to 29 February 2004, the CRB has matched 193 Disclosure applicants to conviction information held on PNC, which have subsequently been found to be incorrect. The total number of applications processed by CRB curing the same period is 2.66 million.

In some circumstances, applicants' details are similar and sometimes identical to people who have a criminal record. There are cases where an individual has given an applicant's personal details to police following criminal activity in an effort to avoid having a police record. The Disclosure itself informs applicants of a process whereby they can challenge or "dispute" the information presented on their Disclosure. The CRB will then liaise with the police to ensure the correct details are recorded. In some circumstances, where it is impossible to dissociate a person from a conviction record, the applicant is asked to undergo fingerprinting for elimination purposes.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for(a) standard disclosures and (b) enhanced disclosures are currently unissued six weeks after the original application; and what the reasons are for delays; [163904]

(2) what the latest performance figures are for the Criminal Records Bureau with regard to applications for (a) standard disclosures and (b) enhanced disclosures. [163905]

Ms Blears

As at 20 March 2004, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has a total of 1,196 applications awaiting completion after six weeks. I am unable to provide a breakdown by Disclosure type as requested because the information is not available from the CRB systems.

The performance figures for February 2004 are as follows:

  • 205,000 Disclosures have been issued during the month;
  • 90 per cent. of Standard Disclosures were issued within two weeks;
  • 90 per cent. of enhanced Disclosures were issued within four weeks;
  • Over 3.4 million Disclosures have now been issued since the start of the service.

Each application that is received by the CRB is progressed individually through the system and delays can occur at any point in the process. The CRB does not record centrally the reasons why individual applications have been delayed and to provide the hon. Member with the information as requested, would require a manual inspection of each of the 1,196 applications. However, the most common causes for an application being delayed are:

  • Applications delayed due to a high volume of cases awaiting checks at Local Police Forces.
  • Applications involving complex casework and checks from numerous Police Forces;
  • Application forms being submitted to the CRB containing incomplete or inconsistent information;
  • Applications stalling within the CR B automated systems due to technical errors.

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