Tracking Applications at the CRB/SCRO
With the CRB handling 70-80,000 applications a week, their process is very proscribed and any issue with an individual application can cause a significant delay to the Disclosure being issued*.
Since DDC moved over to electronic submission of applications in October 2009 the CRB response time has significantly improved, with the average for all Enhanced Disclosures reducing from 40 days in June/July 2009 to 24 calendar days in April 2010. We understand that the improvment is largely due to the elimination of input data errors resulting from the scanning of handwritten forms at the CRB.
Taking out the worst 10% of applications the average comes down to 19 calendar days and we have even had a number issued the same day they were submitted. Coupling this with DDC's online (paperless) application process it is possible for an application to be completed in the morning, submitted to the CRB in our 12.30 p.m. eBulk batch, the results received in our 4.30 p.m. eBulk download and (if clear) the number & issue date instantly displayed to the Requester in their client area of our web site. If only we could predict which ones!
DDC track each application we submit to the CRB or SCRO and clear any "log-jams". Also, it sometimes happens that the checks produce two people with similar personal details, one of whom has a record, in which case the police/CRB request fingerprints be supplied. This time-consuming process can often be avoided if the applicant can confirm to the CRB that the conviction or non-conviction data does indeed apply to them. If this is not the case we will take ownership of the process to completion.
If the application is delayed due to the checks with the local police force (Enhanced Disclosures only) DDC's system will automatically trigger our escalating it 65 days after submission (the CRB will not accept escalations before 60 days has elapsed and we add 5 days for the application to get from the CRB to the police). Once escalated we get into a round of telephone calls and written correspondence with the CRB and if the Disclosure is still not issued 10 days after escalation we will be told which police force has the application. It is then down to us to contact the local police force (we have a database of contacts) and escalate it with them, which usually does the job.
In short we will stay on the case until we get the Disclosure issued.
* The worst case we have experienced so far took over 12 months to see the Disclosure issued, even with our expediting it. The delay was eventually traced to the process used by a particular constabulary to decide whether some non-conviction intelligence they held was relevant to the role and therefore be released. Their process included fingerprinting the applicant and involved the police liaising with the local social services team.