Waiting times revealed for mandatory police checks

Applying for that fulfilling job as a midwife or teacher? Then be warned, you'll need to factor in several days waiting for your criminal police check in Sussex.
Sussex PoliceSussex Police
Sussex Police

According to uCheck, who carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, it takes on average 14.6 days for the work to be processed in Sussex.

The check is mandatory for people wishing to work with children or vulnerable adults.

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Although the length of time is in the upper level of slowness, according to the table, Sussex’s figure is positively lightning compared to the London Met (109.3 days) or even Dorset (58.3 days), while neighbouring Surrey is 18.9 days.

At the other end of the scale, though, are Norfolk (the fastest with 1.8 days) while Guernsey is 2.2 days.

Mayday Healthcare PLC – a nursing agency who provide medical and healthcare jobs in London – reported they have been affected negatively by the Metropolitan Police Force’s DBS turnaround times and disclosed they have four members who have been awaiting their certificates for six months, and one applicant who withdrew his application completely due to the long turnaround time.

And it appears it’s not good for business either. A spokesperson from TMX Healthcare Ltd, said: “Long delays with DBS clearance have caused issues with our members of staff who are already employed and need their DBS checks renewed. We are finding employees needing a new DBS check are taking the proper measures and applying for their renewal three months in advance of expiry, only to wait for nine months for their new check to come through – this leaves the company to have to terminate or suspend their role. The process is costing our business vast amounts of money while we fill their role temporarily or on occasion permanently.”