Fire and rescue services now eligible for more rigorous DBS checks

Fire and rescue services are now eligible for more rigorous standard DBS checks.

In April 2023 new plans were announced by the Government following the HMICFRS report and the London Fire Brigade’s independent review into its own culture,both of which found evidence of high levels of bullying and harassment and discrimination across the services. 

What this means is that Fire and rescue authorities who were automatically eligible for basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks would now be eligible for more rigorous standard DBS checks. 

These changes would allow Fire and Rescue services to have more information in relation to spent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (subject to filtering rules), to understand and mitigate risk and protect colleagues and the public and support high standards of integrity.

Guidance produced in partnership with DBS and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Safeguarding Board, provides a framework for all fire and rescue services in England and Wales to understand what eligibility checks should be considered. 

Visit the NFCC website to read the Joint Guidance on DBS Eligilbility for FRS Roles here >>