When it comes to safeguarding children, vulnerable adults, and the wider public, cutting corners on background checks is not an option. History shows the consequences of rushed or flawed ID Verification for DBS applications:
- 2003 – Soham murders: Ian Huntley’s identity was incorrectly verified. His burglary conviction went undisclosed, allowing him to secure a job he should never have held.
- 2025 – Huntercombe Hospital inquest: An agency worker gained employment using false ID, later linked to the tragic death of Ruth Szymankiewicz.
2025 – NHS scandal: 22 doctors banned abroad for serious misconduct, including assault and harassment, slipped through UK vetting gaps and were cleared to treat patients.
These cases underline a stark truth: a DBS check is only as reliable as the DBS ID Verification behind it.
If you need DBS checks today, you need a process that is fast, secure, fully compliant, and designed to eliminate human error. That’s exactly what EBC Global’s DBS Hi-ID delivers.
What is a DBS ID Verification Check?
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requires strict ID Verification before any criminal record check can be processed. Traditionally, this meant physically inspecting documents from Group 1 and Group 2 lists, in person, such as: passports, driving licences, and utility bills. This process was often slow, inconsistent, and prone to errors.
Now, digital technology allows the process to be automated, faster, and more secure — giving employers confidence that candidates are who they say they are.
Why ‘Level of Confidence’ Matters in DBS ID Verification check?
When we talk about Level of Confidence in a DBS ID check, we mean the level of assurance that a person’s identity has been correctly verified before their criminal record check, whether DBS Standard or DBS Enhanced, can be processed.
For employers, a higher level of confidence means stricter identity proofing, minimising the risk of ID fraud and ensuring the candidate is who they claim to be.
The UK government sets the rules for identity proofing, defining confidence levels for verifying identity. The DBS applies these to different types of checks:
High confidence → required for Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS checks
Medium confidence → used for Basic DBS checks
DBS ID Verification Confidence Levels
Each document is scored based on its security features, the personal data it contains, and the robustness of the process used to issue it. Stronger, harder-to-forge documents score higher, increasing overall verification confidence.
Confidence levels are assessed against:
- Document strength
- Validity
- Activity history
- Identity fraud risk
- Verification
These combine to form DBS-recognised confidence scores, higher confidence means lower fraud risk and greater assurance that candidates are genuine.
How To Automate DBS ID Verification for Safer Hiring
In 2024, our customers told us that DBS ID Verification processes were fragmented: part digital, part manual, and often a poor candidate experience.
We set out to fix that by creating DBS Hi-ID:
- Fully compliant with DBS guidelines, delivering a High level of confidence
- Fully automated for a fast, smooth candidate experience
- Future-ready ensuring there is no repeat of high-profile failures such as Soham
Key Features to our DBS Digital ID Check
- Fully automated and DBS-compliant ID Verification
- Works for both Standard and Enhanced DBS checks
- Produces a High Confidence (H1A) score
- Direct integration with DBS for fast, accurate results
What Background Checks Are Carried Out?
- ID Verification – Confirms government-issued documents are genuine, using facial recognition to match a live selfie with the official photo.
- Right to Work – Uses IDVT to verify the legal right to work in the UK.
- Address Verification – Confirms residency using HMRC and official credit agency data.
- International Sanctions & PEPs – Cross-checks global watchlists to reduce ID fraud risk.
- DBS Enhanced Check – Once all ID Verification steps pass, candidate data is securely submitted to DBS.
All checks are fully automated once the candidate completes their actions.
How EBC Global’s Hi-ID Works
Our process is fast, compliant, and candidate-friendly.
One-click initiation → Start instantly via our platform or API.
Candidate consent → candidate reviews and approves the digital DBS checks.
Selfie + ID capture → Upload a government-issued ID (passport or driving licence) and takes a live selfie.
Automated ID Verification checks, confirming:
Address (via electoral roll, HMRC, credit agencies)
Mortality (to prevent stolen identity theft)
ID authenticity (global database validation)
Right to Work (UK legal work status)
Sanctions & PEPs (international watchlists)
Secure DBS data submission → If all checks are successfully passed, the information is passed securely to DBS for a Standard or Enhanced check.
Real-time updates → Track progress every step of the way.
- Digital certificate → Employers receive a tamper-proof PDF verification report
What is the H1A Scoring System?
High Confidence (H1A) is one of the highest scoring categories possible. It ensures that:
- DBS checks are valid, compliant, and accepted
- Candidates don’t need extra documents or repeat checks
- Employers save time, reduce admin, and eliminate human error
It’s faster for you, easier for your candidates, and compliant for everyone.
Book a walkthrough of our DBS H1-ID process
Problems with Manual Checks
Relying on manual DBS ID Verification creates risks:
- Inconsistency → Dependent on checker knowledge
- Delays → Lost or incomplete documents slow progress
- Fraud → Counterfeit IDs may go undetected
- Compliance issues → Incomplete checks risk rejection
- Admin burden → Storing sensitive documents creates GDPR risk
Why our DBS ID Verification is Top Tier
Our automated solution eliminates human error, delivering accurate candidate identification and correct DBS processing.
It provides fast, high-confidence DBS identity verification checks which protect children and vulnerable adults by ensuring identities are verified against trusted data sources.
Key Advantages:
Trusted data sources → Verified against government and global databases
Advanced technology → Facial recognition, liveness detection, document authentication
Meets standards → Fully aligned with UK DIATF and DBS requirements
Tamper-proof → Safeguards against manipulation or fraud
Instant compliance → Employers receive verifiable DBS Identity Verification evidence immediately
The Future of DBS ID Verification
From 1st November 2025, all employers must follow the new DBS identity checking guidelines affecting both Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS applications. Employers failing to adhere to the new guidance will be at risk of non-compliance and liability.
The direction is clear:
Mandatory digital verification – DBS is moving towards making IDVT (Identity Verification Technology) compulsory, especially in regulation heavy sectors.
Stricter employer responsibility – Compliance obligations are shifting onto employers, with an increase in penalties year on year.
AI-powered fraud detection – Machine learning will play a bigger role in spotting forged documents.
EBC Global’s DBS Hi-ID meets these requirements, ensuring you stay compliant today and ready for tomorrow.
Access the full guidance here:
- Guidelines for Standard/Enhanced DBS check – New DBS ID Guidelines (GOV.UK)
- Good Practice Guide (GPG) 45 – Helps you decide how to check someone’s identity
- DBS Standard Checks: Everything You Need to Know
- Enhanced DBS Checks: Everything You Need to Know
Get Your DBS ID Verification Right – Every Time
Whether you’re in education, healthcare, or any safeguarding-focused sector, the stakes are too high to take chances with identity verification.
With EBC Global’s Hi-ID DBS, you can:
Verify identity to DBS standards in minutes
Reduce risk of fraud and compliance errors
- Securely export your candidate’s dbs identity documents
Speed up hiring without cutting corners
Contact us to learn more: Book a Demo →
FAQs
Does DBS Hi-ID work with share codes?
Yes — it integrates with Home Office share codes.
What happens if an incorrect document is used?
Non-compliant or invalid submissions are automatically rejected.
What if the process fails?
You’ll be notified immediately, with clear reasons and next steps.
What does the result look like?
Employers receive a digital PDF certificate with a full ID Verification breakdown.
