Six months on from our July 2024 update on Disclosure and Barring Service performance figures (Swift to Sluggish: Understanding DBS Turnaround Times), the situation from an employment screening perspective continues to deteriorate.
It is not a reflection on the DBS’ performance though, but due to delays within a few police constabularies’ Disclosure Units which continue to impact significantly on overall timelines for Enhanced DBS checks.
While we welcome the news that Derbyshire Constabulary is no longer under special monitoring for poor performance, this positive development is offset by a substantial 18% increase in average Enhanced DBS turnaround times. This rise is directly attributable to the increased time police forces are taking to complete their part of the process.
In January 2025, the average DBS turnaround times were as follows:
- Enhanced DBS: 14.3 days (up from 12.1 days in July 2024)
- Standard DBS: 1.3 days (improved slightly from 1.4 days in July 2024)
- Basic DBS: 0.8 days (remains constant)
The sheer volume of Enhanced DBS checks requiring police review (now 3 million annually) highlights the urgent need for addressing this bottleneck at the Disclosure Units.
Standard and Basic DBS checks, which do not go for police review, experienced minimal change.
Standard DBS times improved slightly to 1.3 days (from 1.4) with Basic DBS remaining steady at 0.8 days, reinforcing the point that the problems do not lie with the DBS’ own performance.
DBS Performance: Feeling the Impact
While the DBS itself has managed to maintain, and even slightly improve their own performance with DBS checks, the police review stage bottleneck continues to bite.
A significant part of the problem appears to be that the volume of DBS applications received each month consistently exceeds forecasts. Nearly half of the 6.7 million Enhanced DBS applications are sent to the police, meaning that the Disclosure Units are receiving thousands, and sometimes tens of thousands, more applications to review each month than were predicted. Perhaps this is an area where improvements can be made.
The Key Issues To The DBS Turnaround Times
The data from the DBS’ latest Police Performance Report suggests a system under enormous pressure. The sheer volume of Enhanced DBS checks requiring police input is clearly stretching the already strained resources towards breaking point.
While the DBS seems to be processing their part efficiently, the increasing police turnaround times are creating a bottleneck, lengthening the overall process for applicants and potentially impacting recruitment timelines for organisations.
The 18% increase in overall DBS turnaround time delays reinforces this. So, what’s behind the issues at the Disclosure Units that account for 90% of aged cases?
Reasons for DBS turnaround time delays
- Industrial Action: A two-week period of industrial action (4th-17th February) by staff at the Metropolitan Police’s Disclosure Units further highlights the significant pressure on these vital functions. The teams would not be taking action if the conditions were not extremely serious, and the Met’s Disclosure Unit is not even one of the red forces under close monitoring.
- Rising Vacancies and Recruitment Challenges: The monitored police forces continue to struggle with rising vacancy rates within their Disclosure Units, increasing from 82 to 88. The constant cycle of staff leaving and new staff starting creates instability. The recruitment process itself is lengthy, with campaigns taking around three months, police vetting adding another three, and training a further six to nine months. This extended timeframe before new staff can contribute effectively is simply too long and delays improvements.
- Staff Retention Crisis: While recruitment is a serious challenge, the more pressing issue is staff retention within Disclosure Units. For example, Hampshire Constabulary filled 11 vacant positions, but saw 6 experienced staff quit their jobs at the Disclosure Unit. The exodus of experienced personnel further compounds existing problems. The combination of sustained scrutiny; chronic understaffing; the constant demand for overtime to reduce backlogs; the burden of training new staff while simultaneously trying to meet targets for new and aged cases creates an unsustainable workload. The departure of skilled workers is a very sad but inevitable consequence of these unbearable pressures.
DBS Turnaround Times Implications
Until improvements take hold, the cumulative effect of these ongoing challenges will surely lead to:
- Longer wait times for applicants requiring Enhanced DBS checks
- Difficulties for organisations trying to fill vacancies in crucial roles where safeguarding is paramount
- Continued strain on police resources and staff turnover
- Exploring the use of AI to improve efficiency within the police check process
Positive Developments
While these challenges persist, there are some positive signs. Sussex Constabulary’s new process for expediting less complex cases has yielded impressive results, doubling completed checks since November 2024. Kent Constabulary is also undertaking a restructuring effort to improve efficiency. In Dyfed Powys, the DBS has approved additional funding for staffing, and recruitment and training are underway. However, it is anticipated that substantial reductions in aged case volumes will take months to take effect.
What Employers Can Do to Mitigate DBS Delays
The ongoing delays with Enhanced DBS checks underscore the need for employers to prioritise efficiency in their screening processes.
Investing in technology is key to future-proofing recruitment strategies. EBC Global’s automated system offers significant time savings, helping employers minimise the impact of external delays.
Furthermore, the adoption of digital ID verification is essential for streamlining checks and improving overall turnaround times. By embracing these solutions, businesses can not only mitigate current challenges but also build a more robust and efficient screening process for the future.
Using EBC Global for Your DBS Checks
EBC Global offers a comprehensive range of DBS services, including Basic, Standard and Enhanced. As an Umbrella Body, our customers can expect quick, compliant access to DBS checks for their candidates, simplifying the process of verifying criminal history for safer hiring.
As a result, they obtain a detailed report with accurate employment information directly from HMRC. This integration ensures that you can make informed decisions based on reliable, up-to-date data straight from the source.
