{"id":3489,"date":"2019-12-05T06:23:39","date_gmt":"2019-12-05T06:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crbdirect.org.uk\/?p=3489"},"modified":"2021-03-18T15:31:11","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T15:31:11","slug":"dbs-certificates-are-changing-appearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crbdirect.org.uk\/dbs-certificates-are-changing-appearance\/","title":{"rendered":"DBS Certificates are Changing Appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve applied for a DBS check<\/a> recently, then don\u2019t be surprised if your certificate looks a little different to the certificates which have been issued in the past. The Disclosure and Barring Service has recently announced a change in the way certificates are printed, and although the changes are minor, it\u2019s something which both applicants and employers should be aware of.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s Changing?<\/h2>\n

The changes to the appearance of DBS certificates<\/a> is down to the way in which they are printed. An upgrade to the printers used to produce the certificates means that the certificates will be better quality and made with more sustainable materials. The implications of this however is that although the print on the certificate will still be purple, as will the lines printed into the certificate, the shade will be lighter. In all other aspects, the appearance of the certificate will remain unchanged.<\/p>\n

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Potential Issues<\/h2>\n

The changes in the printing of certificates are relatively minor and are not expected to cause any serious issues for applicants or their employers. However, there is the possibility that an employer might suspect a fraudulent certificate if they spot that one piece of paper is substantially lighter than others they have seen in the past. If employers are up to speed with all of the other security features embedded into the DBS certificates, this should set their minds at rest.<\/p>\n

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Security Features of a DBS Certificate<\/h2>\n

Fraud in the DBS process<\/a> is rare. But the risks associated with someone forging a DBS certificate can be considerable. It is the responsibility of employers to make sure that the paperwork they are being given is genuine, and to flag up any potential problems or forgeries. Despite the changes of printing, there are some key characteristics of DBS checks which remain unchanged. These are:<\/p>\n