By Andy McCue, 23 May 2006 12:50
NEWS
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has outlined initial plans for integrating ID cards into the criminal record vetting process as part of a "period of major change" in its new five-year business strategy.
The CRB's current disclosure service charges employers to vet the suitability of new staff who will be working with children and vulnerable adults, although it has been dogged by technical problems since its launch in 2002.
Just this week the Home Office admitted that 2,273 innocent people had wrongly been branded as paedophiles and violent robbers because their details were similar to people with criminal convictions.
From 2009 the CRB said it will begin the first phase of integrating the ID card in the authentication and application process for verifying the identity of those undergoing criminal record checks.
The Home Office claims the current four week disclosure process can potentially be reduced to less than one week with ID cards and that they will also ensure identity checks are more rigorous.
More immediate targets include a move to complete electronic services as part of the strategy to reduce the cost of processing CRB checks. The current service is based only on paper and phone applications but the CRB said it is aiming for full "e-service delivery" for single and bulk electronic applications by 2008.
The CRB business plan said: "Removing the paper form and moving rapidly to a position where electronic transactions are the most used application channel is an essential step in the drive to create a low-priced but high value disclosure service."
This will lead to the CRB operating on a self-funding basis for the first time since it was set up, with a surplus of £2.4m projected for this current financial year.
Another key change in the CRB will be the setting up of a new online register of vetted people - run by the Department for Education and Skills - for employers to check. Anyone who undergoes a criminal record check will be added to the register which will then be continuously updated.
Some of these developments will require changes to the CRB's £400m PFI contract with Capita, which runs until 2012.
The range of data sources the CRB can search is also to be extended from the Police National Computer and police intelligence sources to include the British Transport Police, Royal Military Police, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the police forces for Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
Comments
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1. Karen Challinor
oh my god
that's it we are all doomed
and since when did the CRB become a business ? how is it supposed to make a profit ?
2. John K
It seems that any and every problem this government comes across can be resolved wth ID cards. Well what happens when (*not if*) the cards are hacked and available on the black market, what safe guards will we have then?
3. Graham Coles
So now the Home office can make the same mistake four times faster. How is this an improvement?
4. Radical Meldrew
How on earth does the CRB expect to become a profit making institution?
The most obvious answer is simple but terrifying: They open their ID card linked information database to just about anybody who is willing to pay.
I sincerely hope this is not the case but, as far as I am concerned, the government are slowly nailing up the coffin containing our rights to individual freedom.
5. Roger Huffadine
Sorry - Sea Cucumber I'm going to insult you again. This government has less learning ability than a Sea Cucumber. With all the failed IT projects and screw ups you wouldn't expect this announcement today. What is their PR consultant doing? Much more of this stupidity and a bit more rain & I'm going to piss off somewhere where the sun shines and the politicians are lazy.
6. anonymous
How many criminals have been reported as 'nice people' due to the same sort of error as they made to report over 2000 innocent people as criminals.
And when ID cards are issued, what 'records' will they use for the database entry on your new card?
and.. what happens if your card gets stolen, and used by a criminal in the persuite of their 'career'?
7. anonymous
The ID cards are all about control, absolute control. Although the recent revelations regarding the incompetence at the Home Office & yet again incorrect data on the police computer show what a total mess existing systems are in. What a bunch of self deluding total incompetents. A very dangerous bunch of self deluding total incompetents. What will be the next thing to emerge about their misguided plans to force ID cards on us. Each new announcement is more perturbing, than the previous announcement.
When will the general public wake up to what is being done?