{"id":3408,"date":"2019-10-31T06:27:30","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T06:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crbdirect.org.uk\/?p=3408"},"modified":"2021-03-19T11:33:17","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T11:33:17","slug":"requesting-a-police-record-and-how-this-differs-from-dbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crbdirect.org.uk\/requesting-a-police-record-and-how-this-differs-from-dbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Requesting a Police Record and How This Differs from DBS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most of us have heard of disclosure checks, or the system which went before it, the Criminal Record Bureau checks. This is the type of police check you need for a huge range of jobs involving positions of responsibility or working with children and vulnerable groups. There\u2019s so much publicity about this sort of checks, and the consequence of not having one, that it\u2019s easy to think that this is the only sort of police check around. However, there\u2019s another sort of police record check which is available through a body called ACRO. There are important differences between the system, but some similarities too.<\/p>\n

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Why would I need an ACRO certificate?<\/h2>\n

The Criminal Records Office, or ACRO, has access to the same information as the DBS service. However, you can\u2019t use a certificate issued by ACRO in connection with a job application. The main function of ACRO is to issue police certificates as part of a visa application process. Police checks<\/a> are not needed for people going abroad on business, or on a short holiday. But if you are thinking of emigrating on a permanent basis to Canada, Australia or the United States, providing a police certificate is an essential part of the application process.<\/p>\n

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What does an ACRO certificate show?<\/h2>\n

An ACRO certificate follows similar rules about disregarding very old convictions and cautions in the same way as filtering applies to a DBS certificate. They call this process the \u201cstepping down model\u201d. There is lots of information on the ACRO website about how this works and what criteria they use to decide when an offence can be disregarded. In a similar way to DBS checks, offences which are very serious<\/a> and resulted in a prison sentence will never be left off. The periods for offences to be forgotten are longer than in standard rehabilitation legislation as it applies to a basic DBS certificate. Some of the time periods can be as long as 30 years, and terms of 10 or 12 years generally apply to lesser offences which are spent in two or three years under standard rehabilitation legislation.<\/p>\n

ACRO certificates show convictions from across the UK. If you\u2019ve committed an offence in other parts of the world and information has been sent to the UK police about it, that might show on your ACRO certificate too.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to remember that having something turn up on your ACRO certificate won\u2019t automatically mean you can\u2019t make your dream of moving to Australia come true. However, ACRO simply provides the information and won\u2019t be able to advise in any way on your chances of being allowed to make the move or not. That will be down to the immigration authorities in the countries concerned.<\/p>\n

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Applying for an ACRO Certificate<\/h2>\n

The easiest way of getting an ACRO certificate is by going online and applying through the ACRO website. There are similarities to the DBS application process in that there is a form to complete, and you\u2019ll need to give proof of your identity too. When applying for an ACRO certificate you will need:<\/p>\n