Breakdown of applications received by Disclosure Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

• The total number of applications for criminal record checks received by Disclosure Scotland in the last year (2022), broken down by type of check and reason for application.
• Information regarding the number of criminal record check applications that were approved and denied in the last year (2022), broken down by type of check and reason for denial.
• Any reports or assessments conducted by Disclosure Scotland regarding the effectiveness of the current criminal record check system in Scotland, including any proposed or implemented changes to this system.

Response

I have answered each of your questions below.

The total number of applications for criminal record checks received by Disclosure Scotland in the last year (2022), broken down by type of check and reason for application.

Disclosure Scotland does not record the "reason" for applications. The purpose for an application will normally be indicated by its type. I have provided more information regarding application types below, followed by the requested figures.

• Basic - these can be requested by anyone for any purpose with the consent of the individual to whom it relates.
• Standard - these are for positions where the employer is entitled to ask the “exempted question” that entitles them to view “spent” convictions.
• Enhanced – used by employers or agencies for a “prescribed purpose” for specific roles which can include suitability checks for roles working with children or adults that is not regulated work.
• PVG – used for any role involving regulated work with children or protected adults

	Basic	Standard	Enhanced	PVG	OVERALL TOTAL
Jan-22	21269	1241	275	23241	46026
Feb-22	22137	1392	281	24855	48665
Mar-22	28630	1461	373	27227	57691
Apr-22	22595	1410	989	21882	46876
May-22	24824	1671	3202	25994	55691
Jun-22	22244	1453	2782	27800	54279
Jul-22	21380	1881	2281	27845	53387
Aug-22	24338	1990	1471	28882	56681
Sep-22	23512	1623	838	29835	55808
Oct-22	24956	1712	676	29527	56871
Nov-22	26604	1466	560	28744	57374
Dec-22	17338	1527	576	20466	39907
TOTAL	279827	18827	14304	316298	629256

Information regarding the number of criminal record check applications that were approved and denied in the last year (2022), broken down by type of check and reason for denial.

Disclosure Scotland does not approve or deny applications; certificates are provided to employers for them to make a decision in which Disclosure Scotland has no input.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Disclosure Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

Any reports or assessments conducted by Disclosure Scotland regarding the effectiveness of the current criminal record check system in Scotland, including any proposed or implemented changes to this system.

Following a commitment made by Scottish Ministers in November 2016, Disclosure Scotland began a programme of engagement with its service users in early 2017. In due course, that led to a major consultation paper being issued in July 2018. You can find the Early Engagement Report, the consultation paper and Scottish Ministers’ response here: PVG Early Engagement, Consultation and Response.

Subsequently the Disclosure (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament on 12 June 2019. The Bill took forward the proposals from the earlier work and you can find the Bill and its associated documents here: Disclosure (Scotland) Bill. That link also gives access to the debates which took place as the Bill progressed through the Scottish Parliament. The Act that followed and the updated Explanatory Note are here: Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

Disclosure Scotland is now taking forward a programme of work to bring the 2020 Act into force. Our current Corporate Strategy gives more information about that: DS25 Corporate Strategy and Plan.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.