§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Criminal Records Bureau checks addresses and criminal records in application forms. [161950]
§ Ms BlearsThe Criminal Records Bureau scans application forms into its secure system and the address details are compared against a piece of software that identifies whether a legitimate address has been entered. Should an address not be recognised, the form is sent to members of staff who will cheek the details against a standard verification system known as "Post-Code Lookup". If the address details cannot be verified, the CRB sends a letter to the applicant to seek clarification.
Enhanced Disclosure Applicants are asked to provide details of their addresses, which cover the past five years. This information is used to determine which police force(s) need to be contacted to obtain details of any information held that is not on the police national computer. In such circumstances, the police will check local records to see whether information about the applicant, can be linked with any criminal activity, or any other information that might be pertinent to the position applied for.
Occasionally, an applicant may send with their application form details of any convictions they hold. These are returned to the applicant with a letter informing them that such details are not required for CRB purposes, however the applicant is required to declare such convictions to the registered body. The checks carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau will identify details of relevant convictions.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Records Bureau received the application of Helen Livett of1346W Binstead, Isle of Wight, for a record check; when that record check will be notified to him; and what the reason is for the delay in responding. [162210]
§ Ms BlearsThe Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) received an Enhanced Disclosure Application Form in respect of Helen Livett on 28 August 2002. The CRB will not issue a disclosure as a result of this application because it has been withdrawn. In January 2003, the bureau conducted an exercise to identify the number of old applications that had been suspended, awaiting further information and Helen Livett's was identified as one such application.
The CRB wrote to Helen Livett and her Registered Body to advise that further information was required in order to process her disclosure application. These letters stated that the application would be withdrawn if this information was not received within six weeks of the date of the letters. No reply was received; consequently Helen Livett's disclosure was withdrawn on 11 April 2003.
Should Helen Livett require a disclosure, she will need to re-apply, ensuring that she provides further payment and sufficient information to enable the CRB to process it.