Schools to scrutinise background checkers

Schools are to be given better access to companies that carry out background checks on potential employees.

The move comes as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is clamping down on the number of professional organisations allowed to carry out security checks, as it says there are too many.

In response to the Bichard inquiry into the Soham murders, the Home Office said the 14,000 organisations currently registered to perform background checks will now be streamlined.

A Home Office spokesperson told silicon.com: "[14,000] is not a sensible number."

The CRB has launched an online search facility to make it easier for people to find organisations that are allowed to carry out the checks. Schools in particular are being targeted for the service.

Around 10,000 registered organisations perform fewer than 100 checks a year, of which nearly 4,000 have not submitted a CRB in the last 12 months.

The CRB will gradually curb the number of organisations registered to carry out checks over the next 18 months.

Home Office Minister Andy Burnham said in a statement: "The protection of the vulnerable in our society remains high on the Government's agenda."