2023 Update: Why is my DBS Check taking so long?

Last week, over half of the DBS Checks we processed (formerly CRB Checks), were completed in less than 5 working days. A quarter of those were completed in less than a day, so why is it that some DBS Checks take so long? 

How long does a DBS Check take?

The length of time a DBS Check takes depends on a number of factors, including what level of check is being carried out.

Basic DBS Checks generally take between 24-48 hours to complete. This is because they simply involve a check against the Police National Computer. They can sometimes take longer. The DBS advise that any level of DBS Check can take between 6-8 weeks to complete on some occasions.

Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks take longer to complete than the Basic DBS.

Standard DBS Checks normally take anywhere between 2-7 days. Enhanced DBS Check tend to average around 14 days. The reason these checks take much longer is because they are more comprehensive and require more checking.

An Enhanced DBS Check goes through the following 5 stages:

Stage 1: The DBS Application form is received and validated

Stage 2: The Police National Computer (PNC) is searched

Stage 3: The application is checked against the Child and/or Adult Barred Lists (if required).

Stage 4: The application is sent for a 'records held by the police search'. The police will add on any information they deem relevant to the position give on the DBS application.

Stage 5: The DBS Check process is complete and the certificate is being printed and posted.

As we can see in stage 4, the application arrives with the local police authority. This is often the stage where a DBS check gets delayed. But what happens when a DBS is with the local police?   

What Happens When My DBS Is with My Local Police Force? 

When your local police authority receives your DBS information, they compare this against your criminal record. The purpose of this is to see if there's any relevant information that requires disclosure. If there is, the Police will disclose this on your DBS certificate. 

This can be a time-intensive process. Some police forces have backlogs of applications due to limited staffing or internal limitations. This can be caused by large events that need police supervision or attendance. For example, the 2010/11 Student Riots caused significant delays to some police forces DBS turnaround times. 

This can, unfortunately, lead to your DBS Check not being processed for several days or even weeks. You can check police DBS performance online, to gauge whether your check could be delayed. 

What else can cause delays to my DBS Application? 

It’s not just police backlogs that can cause delays, there are other reasons. DBS delays are caused most commonly by errors on the DBS application form. This makes it incredibly difficult for the DBS and police to reference the correct information. If this happens, not only can your check be delayed, it can be withdrawn by the DBS. This means you would need to start the process from the beginning. 

The DBS has also recently advised that they are experiencing an unprecedented demand for DBS Checks. This combined with staffing issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic means that the average processing times for DBS Checks will be slightly increased for the next few months. They estimate that DBS Checks will take an additional 5 days to process.

What can you do if your DBS Check is stuck at stage 4? 

If your DBS Check is stuck at stage 4 for more than 60 days, an escalation can be raised. You would need to contact the DBS on 03000 200 190 to request this.  

Once an escalation is raised, the DBS will start an investigation with the police to establish why there is a delay. If any queries are raised, they will need to be dealt with before the check can continue.  

If a query finds incorrect information has been submitted, the application will be withdrawn. 

What can Personnel Checks do to help speed up the process? 

If needed, Personnel Checks can then contact the DBS to raise an escalation with the police force. The 60 days or more wait time still applies. 

Once the police force has received the escalation, they aim to get their searches complete within 10 working days. We can only do this if you've ordered your DBS Check through us. 

What happens if 10 working days have passed since the escalation? 

If after 10 working days your application is still stuck in stage 4, let us know. Personnel Checks then have the authority to contact the DBS to obtain the contact details of the relevant process. We can then contact them directly for updates and guidance. 

What stage is my DBS Check currently in? 

You can track your DBS Online through the DBS’ secure portal.  This will confirm exactly which stage your DBS check is currently in. 

For more information about anything in this article, or, how our screening solutions can help you, get in touch! You can give us a call on 01254 355688 or drop us an email at letstalk@personnelchecks.co.uk