Report a problem about a criminal record check or barring decision
Dispute a mistake on your DBS certificate
You can raise a dispute for a standard or enhanced check if you believe there’s been a mistake in either:
- the records provided, like wrong or irrelevant information on convictions
- personal information, like your name
There is a different process for disputing information on a basic check certificate.
The police may ask for fingerprints to prove your identity if there’s a mistake in the records.
How to raise a dispute
Report the mistake within 3 months of the date on the certificate.
For mistakes in records
Fill in the certificate dispute form.
For mistakes in personal information
Fill in Section A of the certificate dispute form, or call the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) customer services team.
Dispute a DBS update service certificate change
Call customer services if you subscribe to the DBS update service and want to dispute the status of a certificate. They’ll send out the forms you need to raise a dispute.
DBS customer services
Telephone: 0300 0200 190
Minicom: 0300 0200 192
Welsh: 0300 0200 191
International: +44 151 676 9390
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
Send the form to:
DBS
Disputes
Customer Services
FREEPOST RTHU-TRJY-KSHY
PO Box 165
Liverpool
L69 3JD
Independent Monitor review
DBS will work with the police to make a decision about your dispute. If the police do not agree there’s a mistake, the dispute will be referred to the Independent Monitor only if the objection is that information is:
- not relevant to the position applied for
- should not be included in the certificate
The enhanced certificate will be corrected if the Independent Monitor agrees with your dispute.
You must raise a dispute with DBS before a referral to the Independent Monitor is made.
Contact the Independent Monitor
IndependentMonitor@homeoffice.gov.uk
Independent Monitor
Home Office
3rd Floor Peel
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF