Levels of Disclosures

Basic Disclosures
Standard Disclosures
Enhanced Disclosures

Basic Disclosures

Basic Disclosures are the lowest level of Disclosure and are issued to individuals on request, subject to confirmation of identity.

Basic Disclosures contain details of convictions held in central police records which are unspent according to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 or state if there are no such convictions.

Basic Disclosures are only issued to individuals from Disclosure Scotland (on payment of the appropriate fee) and are not provided directly to employers or prospective employers.

Standard Disclosures

Standard Disclosures are available in respect of positions exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. They contain details of both spent and unspent convictions (and any cautions in England and Wales) held on central records or show that there are no such matters held on central records.

Standard Disclosures are available to individuals whose application is signed by an authorised person within an organisation registered with CRBS who is also sent a copy of the Disclosure by Disclosure Scotland.

Standard Disclosures for volunteers can be obtained free of charge via the Central Registered Body for Scotland (CRBS) but only through organisations that are registered with CRBS.

Enhanced Disclosures

Enhanced Disclosures are available in respect of positions exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However they are reserved for those who work in positions (either on a paid or voluntary basis) which involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children and young people under the age of 18 years or vulnerable adults.

Enhanced Disclosures contain details of both spent and unspent convictions (and any cautions in England and Wales). In addition they also show any information from local police records considered by the Chief Constable to be relevant to the position being sought and which can be disclosed without harming the interests of the prevention or detection of crime.

The Chief Constable may also disclose information to the registered body only and not to the individual. This information does not form part of the Disclosure certificate and is sent separately to the registered body. It is withheld from the applicant in the interests of the prevention or detection of crime.

Enhanced Disclosures are available to individuals whose application is signed by an authorised person within a registered organisation i.e. through organisations that are registered with CRBS.

Standard and Enhanced Disclosure information is made available for purposes of assisting decisions about the suitability of an individual for a particular position or particular positions. The information should not be used for considering the individual’s suitability for other positions.(Source: Explanatory Guide on the Code of Practice, Disclosure Scotland, 2003)

Remember – Now that the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 has commenced, Disclosure checks that are requested for “child care” positions (as defined under Schedule 2 of the Act) will include information from various lists of individuals who are disqualified from working with children.