The requirement for coaches to have an awareness of child protection issues has become increasingly important. Many governing bodies for sport cover this subject as part of their coaching qualifications or request that coaches attend an awareness course. You can find more information about child protection by:

• Attending a workshop;
• Reading a publication/Home Study pack;
• Contacting an organisation responsible for child protection.

Criminal Record Checks

Checks are processed through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and can only be requested for staff and volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults.

The CRB is a Government Agency and provides a 'one stop shop' for those seeking access to criminal records checks. It has access to information held on the Police National Computer (PNC) and relevant lists held by the Department of Health (DH) and Education and Skills (DfES). Additionally, in some circumstances, information is provided by local police forces. A disclosure is the document containing such criminal record information.

The CRB disclosure service offers registered organisations a means of checking the background of volunteers and paid staff and this information can be used to form PART of an informed recruitment process.

There are two kinds of CRB checks available. A Standard disclosure and an Enhanced disclosure.

At the Bishard enquiry, which reviewed the Ian Huntley case it was recommended that only enhanced checks are carried out on individuals working with children.

An enhanced disclosure contains the same information as a standard disclosure, however it MAY contain non-conviction information from local police records which a chief officer thinks may be relevant such as previous investigations or allegations.

CRB checks for paid staff cost £33 whilst disclosures for volunteers are FREE.

Criminal Records Unit

The CRU is a CRB umbrella registered body. The unit was set up in Wales only to help with safer recruitment of both staff and volunteers who work with children within the voluntary sector. The unit also provides advise, info and training to voluntary organisations in using the disclosure service.

There are NO charges to use the unit. The only charges are those levied by the CRB in relation to checks for PAID employees. Volunteer checks are FREE.

Link to the Criminal Records Unit