Anyone who needs a police check (disclosure) for the work (paid or unpaid) they do, now needs one from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Individuals are no longer able to undertake their own check at a Police Station.

In order to for disclosures to be carried out, an organisation needs to register with the CRB at a cost of £300 per year. Individuals need to go through an organisation and cannot register with the CRB as an individual.

However the WCVA have now set up the 'Criminal Records Unit' for Voluntary Organisations in Wales, with money from the Welsh Assembly.

This Criminal Records Unit has registered umbrella body status for voluntary organisations. It was set up to help Voluntary Organisations in Wales access the CRB Disclosure Service. It will act on behalf of voluntary organisations as a countersignatory for disclosure checks.

There is no £300 charge for these organisations and there is no administration fee, however there will be charges for disclosures for paid staff (volunteers are free!).

Organisations need to register with the WCVA CRU and go through the registration process. There is one-to-one and group support available to organisations who register and this is ongoing.

For general enquiries: 0870 241 6557

Specific enquiries: 01492 539 898/899

e-mail: cru@wcva.org.uk or click for WCVA Website

If anyone needs to contact the Criminal Records Bureau directly (e.g. if they are not a voluntary organisation) the details are as follows:

Tel: 0870 90 90 844, or click for Criminal Records Bureau Website