The term “Criminal Records Bureau” most commonly refers to the former UK Criminal Records Bureau, usually shortened to CRB. It carried out criminal-record checks for employment and safeguarding purposes in England and Wales. The CRB no longer operates as a separate organisation: on 1 December 2012 its functions merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority to form the Disclosure and Barring Service, or DBS. This guide explains what the old CRB did, what replaced it, how modern DBS checks work, and where to look for actual criminal court cases and public records.
What is the Criminal Records Bureau?
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) was a UK government organisation that processed criminal-record checks for employers, voluntary organisations and other eligible bodies in England and Wales.
Its checks were commonly called CRB checks. They helped organisations assess applicants for roles where criminal-history information was legally relevant, especially jobs involving children, vulnerable adults or positions of trust.
If an employer today asks for a “CRB check,” they usually mean a current DBS check.
When did the Criminal Records Bureau become DBS?
On 1 December 2012, the Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority were merged to create the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
The change brought together two functions:
Criminal-record disclosure
Processing criminal-record checks and issuing certificates for eligible employment, licensing and safeguarding purposes.
Safeguarding and barring
Maintaining barred lists and making decisions about whether individuals should be prevented from engaging in regulated activity with children or adults.
What does the Disclosure and Barring Service do now?
DBS is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK Home Office. Its main responsibilities include:
- processing Basic DBS checks
- processing Standard DBS checks
- processing Enhanced DBS checks
- processing eligible Barred List checks
- maintaining the Children’s Barred List
- maintaining the Adults’ Barred List
- making barring decisions
- operating the DBS Update Service
What types of criminal-record checks does DBS provide?
| Check | Who can use it? | What it can disclose |
|---|---|---|
| Basic DBS | Anyone aged 16 or over; suitable for any purpose. | Unspent convictions and conditional cautions under applicable rehabilitation rules. |
| Standard DBS | Only legally eligible roles. | Spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions held on the Police National Computer, subject to filtering rules. |
| Enhanced DBS | Only legally eligible roles. | Standard-level information plus relevant local police information considered appropriate to disclose. |
| Enhanced + Barred Lists | Eligible roles involving regulated activity. | Enhanced information plus whether the applicant is barred from specified work with children, adults, or both. |
How much does a DBS criminal-record check cost?
As of 26 September 2026, the current official DBS fees are:
| Service | Until 4 October 2026 | From 5 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic DBS check | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Standard DBS check | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Enhanced DBS check | £49.50 | £41.00 |
| Enhanced with Barred List(s) | £49.50 | £41.00 |
| DBS Update Service | £16/year | £15/year |
Registered or umbrella bodies can charge separate administration fees in addition to the official DBS fee.
Basic DBS check
A Basic DBS check is the closest modern equivalent to a general criminal-record disclosure that an individual can request directly.
It can be used for any job or purpose and shows convictions and conditional cautions that are considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Applicants must be at least 16.
Apply for a Basic DBS checkStandard DBS check
A Standard DBS check is available only for positions and licences covered by specific legislation.
It can disclose:
- unspent convictions
- spent convictions that are not protected by filtering
- adult cautions that are not filtered
- other qualifying Police National Computer information
An individual does not ordinarily apply directly for a Standard check. The application is submitted through a DBS Registered Body for an eligible role.
Enhanced DBS check
Enhanced checks are available for legally eligible roles, including certain work involving children, adults receiving specified care or supervision, and other positions of particular trust.
An Enhanced certificate can contain:
- Standard-level criminal-record information
- relevant information held by local police
- information considered relevant to the specific role
Enhanced DBS checks with Barred List information
Some positions involving regulated activity are eligible for a check of the Children’s Barred List, the Adults’ Barred List, or both.
This tells the eligible organisation whether the person is legally barred from undertaking certain regulated activity.
How to apply for a criminal-record check in England and Wales
Determine the correct check level
Use a Basic check for general purposes. Standard, Enhanced and Barred List checks require legal eligibility.
Apply through the correct route
Individuals can apply directly for a Basic DBS check. Higher-level checks usually go through a Registered Body, employer or authorised organisation.
Prove your identity
DBS checks require identity verification and address-history information.
Pay the applicable fee
Use the official DBS fee for the level of check, plus any separately disclosed administration fee charged by an intermediary.
Receive the certificate
The certificate is issued to the applicant. The employer or organisation can then inspect it as permitted.
Can you get your own criminal record from the Criminal Records Bureau?
Not from the old CRB, because it no longer exists.
If you need a general certificate showing your own unspent convictions for work or another ordinary purpose, you can apply for a Basic DBS check.
If you are trying to see the information the police hold about you, that is a different process. DBS does not own the Police National Computer criminal-conviction record.
DBS Subject Access Request
Under data-protection law, you can ask DBS whether it holds personal information about you and request a copy. This is called a Subject Access Request (SAR).
A DBS subject-access request can relate to:
- previous DBS disclosure applications
- barring information
- information linked to contact with DBS
DBS states that valid subject-access requests are normally free, although a reasonable fee can be charged for requests that are excessive or repetitive.
DBS aims to respond within one month after receiving a valid request and sufficient identity evidence.
DBS Subject Access Request guidanceWhy some convictions do not appear on a DBS certificate
DBS disclosure is affected by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and by filtering rules.
Filtering determines when older or less serious criminal-record information no longer needs to appear on Standard or Enhanced DBS certificates.
Rehabilitation rules
Some convictions become spent after the relevant rehabilitation period and are not shown on a Basic DBS check.
Standard / Enhanced rules
Certain old or minor records become protected and are no longer disclosed on Standard or Enhanced certificates.
Can the Criminal Records Bureau search court cases?
Not in the way a public court-record website does.
The old CRB and current DBS provide criminal-record disclosure services. They are not public websites where anyone can search Crown Court or Magistrates’ Court cases by a defendant’s name.
For criminal court information in England and Wales, use HM Courts & Tribunals Service resources.
Court and Tribunal Hearings
Search published hearing information for Crown Courts, Magistrates’ Courts and other supported jurisdictions.
Find a Court or Tribunal
Find addresses, phone numbers, opening times and contact details for the court that handled the case.
The National Archives
Research older Crown Court and historical criminal-case records that have been transferred to archival custody.
How to find older criminal court records
Historical court records are separate from DBS checks.
The National Archives explains that many criminal court records are not online. Researchers may need to know:
- which court heard the case
- approximately when the trial took place
- the defendant’s name
- the type of offence
- whether the record remains with the court or has been transferred to an archive
Modern Crown Court records can be held by the Crown Court itself, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, or The National Archives depending on the age of the case.
National Archives criminal-court guideCRB, DBS, Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI are not the same
The correct criminal-record checking organisation depends on where the suitability decision or role is based.
| Jurisdiction | Current organisation | Important point |
|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | Disclosure and Barring Service | Replaced the Criminal Records Bureau in 2012. |
| Scotland | Disclosure Scotland | Uses Scotland’s separate disclosure system. |
| Northern Ireland | AccessNI | Operated by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. |
Is there a “Criminal Records Bureau” in the United States?
The phrase can be used generically in the United States, but there is no single U.S. government agency equivalent to the former UK Criminal Records Bureau that provides every public criminal record.
U.S. criminal records are typically divided among:
- state criminal-history repositories
- state police or public-safety agencies
- county and state courts
- sheriffs and police departments
- state departments of corrections
- the FBI for federal identity-history records
Can employers request a criminal-record check?
Yes, but the level of check depends on the role.
A Basic DBS check can be used for any role. Standard, Enhanced and Barred List checks require statutory eligibility.
DBS also warns that its checks do not necessarily show criminal records held overseas, so employers may need separate overseas criminal-record procedures where relevant.
Criminal Records Bureau FAQs
1. What is the Criminal Records Bureau?
The Criminal Records Bureau was the UK organisation that processed criminal-record checks in England and Wales. It merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority in 2012 to form the Disclosure and Barring Service.
2. Does the Criminal Records Bureau still exist?
No. It ceased operating as a separate organisation on 1 December 2012. Its criminal-record checking functions are now performed by DBS.
3. Is a CRB check the same as a DBS check?
“CRB check” is the old terminology. New checks in England and Wales are DBS checks.
4. Can I apply for a DBS check myself?
Anyone aged 16 or over can apply for a Basic DBS check. Standard and Enhanced checks normally require an eligible role and application through an authorised Registered Body.
5. What does a Basic DBS check show?
A Basic DBS certificate shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions under applicable rehabilitation rules.
6. What is the difference between Standard and Enhanced DBS checks?
Standard checks disclose eligible spent and unspent criminal-record information subject to filtering. Enhanced checks add relevant local police information, and eligible enhanced checks can also include Barred List information.
7. How much does a DBS check cost?
Until 4 October 2026, Basic and Standard checks cost £21.50 and Enhanced checks cost £49.50. From 5 October 2026, DBS has announced fees of £20 for Basic and Standard checks and £41 for Enhanced checks.
8. Can I search criminal court cases through DBS?
No. DBS is a criminal-record disclosure and safeguarding organisation, not a public criminal court case-search database. Court information is handled through HM Courts & Tribunals Service and related court resources.
9. Can a DBS subject-access request give me my complete police criminal record?
No. DBS states that it does not own the Police National Computer conviction record. Police maintain the PNC. A DBS subject-access request provides information held by DBS itself.
10. What should I use instead of DBS in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Scotland uses Disclosure Scotland. Northern Ireland uses AccessNI.
Official sources used for this Criminal Records Bureau guide
- GOV.UK — Criminal Records Bureau
- GOV.UK — About the Disclosure and Barring Service
- GOV.UK — Request a Basic DBS Check
- GOV.UK — Find Out Which DBS Check a Role Can Use
- GOV.UK — DBS Checks Guidance
- GOV.UK — DBS Filtering Guidance
- GOV.UK — DBS Subject Access Requests
- GOV.UK — DBS Fee Changes From 5 October 2026
- HMCTS — Find a Court or Tribunal
- HMCTS — Court and Tribunal Hearings
- The National Archives — Criminal Court Cases
- GOV.UK — Where to Apply for UK Criminal Record Checks