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The Guardian World1 min read
'Urgent' DBS system review after BBC investigation
TL;DR
The UK government is urgently reviewing the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) system after a BBC investigation revealed a nursery worker, Kristian Parry, was able to secure another job despite being arrested for downloading indecent images of children. The system's flaws have raised concerns about the safety of young and vulnerable individuals.
Key points
- UK government reviewing DBS system after BBC investigation
- Kristian Parry arrested for downloading indecent images
- DBS Update system checks pre-conviction information every nine months
- Parents say the system is not fit for purpose
- Parry sentenced to two years in prison
Mentioned in this story
Kristian ParryDisclosure and Barring ServiceLeeds
The UK government is "urgently" reviewing a system used to keep young and vulnerable people safe after a BBC investigation revealed how a nursery worker arrested for downloading indecent images of children was able to get another childcare job.
Officials are now examining the case of Kristian Parry, who was later sentenced to two years in prison, to "address the issues" raised.
Parry's arrest was not reflected via the Disclosure and Barring Service's (DBS) Update system, which only searches for pre-conviction information every nine months, leaving potential employers unaware.
Parents at the nursery said the system was "not fit for purpose". A senior politician described it as "fatally flawed".
Parry, 26, was jailed in March after admitting possessing indecent images and falsifying job references to obtain a role at a nursery in Leeds.
The sex offender then went on to secure work in the baby room at another nursery in the city two months after his arrest, while still on bail.
The BBC understands that Parry's DBS check was clear because the online "Update" service used by many employers, only searches for non-conviction information, including arrests, every nine months.
"The DBS system needs a complete overhaul, it's not fit for purpose and it allowed this man to gain access to children," one mother told the BBC.
"Calling something an update service that only updates every nine months and doesn't actually inform employers of any status changes doesn't feel like much of an update service to me."
The DBS said, on average, it completes 2.6 million Basic-level checks each year, with 36,000 revealing a conviction.
The body said they were important "because they provide relevant information about an individual's criminal history".
There are other levels of checks which offer relevant non-conviction or caution information, often demanded by settings such as childcare.
Applicants or employers are able to sign up for the "Update" service which can recheck records as needed.
Some of the families at the Leeds nursery where Parry worked following his arrest started an online petition after learning about how the DBS Update service works.
"I think what's happened in our nursery has highlighted such a gigantic loophole to the system, that I think it would be incredibly difficult for anyone to ignore," one mother said.
West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, Alison Lowe, said she shared parents' concerns about the Update service.
"We're writing to government to tell them that the DBS system is fatally flawed," she said.
"We know that the Department for Education is telling nursery and early years providers to use the update service when they're recruiting as part of their safer recruitment processes but that's a fallacy, it's not safe."
Q&A
What triggered the UK government's review of the DBS system?
The review was triggered by a BBC investigation revealing that a nursery worker, Kristian Parry, was able to get another childcare job despite being arrested for downloading indecent images of children.
How does the DBS Update system fail to protect children?
The DBS Update system only searches for pre-conviction information every nine months, which can leave potential employers unaware of recent arrests or convictions.
What was Kristian Parry sentenced for?
Kristian Parry was sentenced to two years in prison for possessing indecent images of children and falsifying job references to obtain a nursery position.
What are the concerns raised by parents regarding the DBS system?
Parents at the nursery expressed that the DBS system is 'not fit for purpose' and a senior politician described it as 'fatally flawed'.
