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Disclosure and Barring Service
Barring Service
What the Disclosure and Barring Service is doing
30 August 2018 — News story
Updated identity checking guidelines
New identity (ID) checking guidelines are being introduced on 3 September 2018.
16 August 2018 — News story
Help reduce recruitment fraud
The DBS is working with SAFERjobs, asking organisations to join its scheme that aims to tackle the rise in fake background screening checks.
25 May 2018 — News story
GDPR is here
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018.
15 June 2018 — Guidance
DBS update service: applicant guide
Guidance regarding the DBS update service, how to join and how to renew a subscription to the service.
4 June 2018 — Promotional material
DBS News 2018: Edition Two
Read the latest edition of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) newsletter.
22 June 2018 — Detailed guide
DBS online account guidance
Information regarding a DBS online account and the services available to you as a barring or basic check customer.
Latest from the Disclosure and Barring Service
Subscriptions
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What the Disclosure and Barring Service does
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions on more than four million people every year.
DBS is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office.
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Contact DBS
DBS disclosure service
PO Box 3961
Royal Wootton Bassett
SN4 4HF
United Kingdom
DBS helpline
03000 200 190
Minicom
03000 200 192
Welsh
03000 200 191
International
+44151 676 9390
Go to the DBS online tracking service to check on the progress of an application. Tracking an application is much quicker online. The link to this service is available at the top of this homepage.
The phone line is open 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm on Saturday. You may be asked some security questions to verify your identity. All calls to this number are recorded for training and security purposes.
If emailing us, please include your full name, address telephone number and, if relevant, any DBS references numbers in your correspondence. We cannot guarantee the security of information until it is in our possession, and will not take responsibility for such information until we receive it.
DBS certificate disputes
Liverpool
L69 3JD
United Kingdom
Telephone
03000 200 190
Contact us if you think your DBS certificate is wrong. This can include incorrect personal details, incorrect conviction information or other discrepancies. If you receive a DBS certificate with a conviction that doesn't relate to you, you should also inform the person who requested that you complete the form as soon as possible.
The phone line for certificate disputes is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday only.
Sensitive applications
Customer services
PO Box 165
Liverpool
L69 3JD
United Kingdom
Transgender applicants are protected in legislation and are not obliged to include details indicating a previous gender in their application form.
The DBS has a process in place which allows any details indicating a previous gender to be checked without being disclosed on the completed certificate.
They are, however, required by law to provide all name details to the DBS in their current and any previous identity. Deliberately withholding this information may be an attempt to prevent conviction information being revealed and is an offence.
If emailing, we cannot guarantee the security of information until it is in our possession, and will not take responsibility for such information until we receive it.
DBS barring
PO Box 3963
Royal Wootton Bassett
SN4 4HH
United Kingdom
Telephone:
03000 200 190
We cannot guarantee the security of information until it is in our possession, and will not take responsibility for such information until we receive it. For this reason we recommend submitting referrals via our secure online referral form, however if you are using a paper referral form we recommend using registered post.
You can also use Webchat on DBS online services to contact us about any general enquiries.
FOI requests
Policy Department
PO Box 165
Liverpool
L69 3JD
United Kingdom
If you wish to submit a new request under the Freedom of Information Act please contact the DBS.
Most requests are free of charge but you may need to pay a small amount for photocopies or postage. When you submit a request we'll let you know if you have to make a payment.
DBS legal services
Stephenson House
Alderman Best Way
Darlington
DL1 4WB
United Kingdom
Address to be used for the service of legal documents.
DBS does not accept service by email.
Make an FOI request
- Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request.
- Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question.
Corporate information
Jobs and contracts
Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Find out about our commitment to publishing in Welsh. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.