What is the difference between CRB and DBS?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 15, 2026
There really is no difference between the CRB and DBS. The only difference is the ISA and CRB merged to create the DBS, Disclosure and Barring Service.
Is CRB the same as DBS?
In 2012, CRB Checks were replaced by DBS Checks when the Criminal Records Bureau merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). This new body became known as the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Why did it change from CRB to DBS?
The two independent services merged in 2012 as a way of streamlining the process of applications and barred list checks. The DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) took control of all barred lists from the ISA, meaning that process now took place as part of the Enhanced DBS check, if a person is eligible.
What is CRB and DBS?
DBS checks and CRB checks are the two names that often get thrown around when somebody is looking for essentially the same thing – a criminal record background check on their current or potential staff.
What is the difference between DBS and criminal record check?
Put simply, there is no great difference between these two checks. They simply refer to different criminal record checks that have been offered over the last fifteen years or so. A CRB check refers to a Criminal Records Bureau check, which was launched in 2002.
31 related questions foundWhen did CRB become DBS?
1 December 2012 sees the launch of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), a merger between the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
What are the 3 types of DBS checks?
There are three levels of DBS checks: basic, standard and enhanced.
What is DBS called now?
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) have merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). CRB checks are now called DBS checks.
What is DBS certificate?
What is a DBS Certificate? A DBS check (formerly known as CRB check) is a type of background check which confirms an applicant's criminal record, and by extension, their suitability for working with children and/or vulnerable adults.
What is DBS stand for?
DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. This is a government body which looks after checking people's criminal records. About 10 years ago it replaced a body called the Criminal Records Bureau, or CRB. Some people still use the old name, but they are talking about the same thing.
How long is DBS valid for?
While official recommendations suggest a DBS should be renewed every three years, some organisations have set policies surrounding when they request rechecks. This timescale can vary from six months to every two years.
Is a police certificate the same as a DBS?
For many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, a police certificate has to be submitted before your visa is granted. It's not the same thing as the DBS checks which are carried out on people who are working in the UK in positions of responsibility, but they are similar.
Why are DBS checks important?
Carrying out DBS Checks lets employers know the criminal history of an applicant or current employee. While this is the primary purpose of DBS Checks and will enable you to decide if a person is suitable to the workplace, you should always be mindful of the ways stakeholders can be affected.
Is Background Check same as DBS?
There is no difference between a CRB and DBS check. After the publication of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), were merged in 2012 and given the new title of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
How does a DBS work?
You are offered a job which requires a DBS check. Your employer gives you a DBS check application form. You complete the DBS check form and return it to your employer with documents to prove your identity. Your emplyer submits the form to the Disclosure and Barring Service (directly or via an umbrella body).
Who checks DBS?
A DBS check is conducted by the Disclosure and Barring Service, a Home Office sponsored non-departmental public group. The DBS was created in 2012 when the Criminal Records Bureau was merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). The aim of the merger was to streamline the process.
Can I get my own DBS certificate?
Yes, you can apply for a DBS check as an individual. You do not need to be part of a company or organisation. Individuals cannot apply for an Enhanced DBS check or Standard DBS check however, because this can only be requested by eligible organisations or companies.
Does everyone have a DBS certificate?
An organisation cannot choose to DBS check everyone that applies to their company. Instead, it has to be based on the individual role. Some roles will always require a DBS check. They are necessary for any job where employees work with or around vulnerable groups, including children.
How far back does a CRB check go?
There is no limit to how far back an enhanced or standard check can go. For basic checks, only unspent convictions will be listed on a certificate.
What is CRB slang?
"Criminal Records Bureau" is the most common definition for CRB on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
What will fail a CRB check?
The number one way to fail a background check is if details of past convictions appear on a DBS certificate. Any criminal behaviour can show up on a DBS check, depending on the level of the check carried out – basic, standard, or enhanced.
What's the difference between a DBS and an enhanced DBS?
An enhanced DBS check includes all the information included as part of a standard check, plus any information held locally by police forces that's considered relevant to the child workforce and post applied for.
What is the highest level of DBS?
An Enhanced DBS Check is the highest level of DBS Check, therefore this level of check reveals the most from a criminal record. An Enhanced DBS Check will check an applicant's criminal history for cautions, warnings, reprimands and convictions (both spent and unspent).
What are the 5 stages of a DBS check?
Stages of the DBS checking process
- Stage 1: Application received and validated. ...
- Stage 2: Police National Computer (PNC) searched. ...
- Stage 3: Adults' and Children's Barred Lists. ...
- Stage 4: Search of records held by the police. ...
- Stage 5: DBS certificate printed. ...
- If there's a match. ...
- Process complete.