Here’s What DBS Checks Mean for PCO Drivers in the UK 2024

Private hire drivers are responsible for transporting the public from one place to another every day. To earn the trust of the authorities and get a PCO licence, every driver has to complete an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.

Previously known as CRB checks, DBS checks are the criminality evaluation one needs to get their license. Different jobs require these checks and most of these involve jobs carrying out a regulated activity or front-line workers to keep the public safe. Although taxi or PCO driving doesn’t technically involve any regulated activity, there’s a potential risk for the public; hence the government performs these checks to ensure safety.

As a PCO car hire in London, we help drivers through all stages of their careers, including PCO license, signing up with rideshare companies, etc. Our experts have prepared a detailed guide on DBS Checks for PCO drivers in the UK. Keep reading.

What are DBS Checks?

DBS checks are used to get necessary information about a person’s criminal record history. The Disclosure and Barring Service conducts these high-level criminal history checks to disclose spent and unspent convictions, warnings, reprimands, and cautions. Initially, these checks were only performed on people responsible for driving vulnerable people and children, but the government decided to standardize this practice for all private hire and taxi drivers in 2012. Authorities like Transport for London and the Local Government Group as well as London’s Mayor, all agreed to this law for citizen’s safety. Licensing authorities in the UK require enhanced DBS checks for all drivers as per the standard required by law. These checks reveal everything visible on a standard check, along with relevant non-conviction details held by police forces. In some cases, taxi licensing companies can also find out if a person is barred by the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) from working with children or vulnerable adults. According to the statutory guidance of the Department for Transports (DfTs), all private hire drivers and taxi drivers must have an enhanced DBS check as a part of their application. This involves a check against:

Any relevant police notes on the individual
Presence of the individual’s name in the DBS Adult’s or Children’s Barred Lists
Records of cautions, reprimands, warnings, spent or unspent convictions in the Police National Computer

Taxi and private hire driver licensing authorities can only make a licensing decision based on the insights provided by a detailed DBS Check. That’s not all; according to the recent changes in the DfTs policy, new drivers need to complete a DBS Check every six months or register with the DBS Update Service (further details about this are below). Doing this not only helps simplify the licensing process but also provides reassurance to women and vulnerable customers commuting in taxis, PHVs, and PCO cars in London.

Recommended Read: The Complete Guide to PCO in London

Types of DBS Checks

There are four different DBS checks, each serving a different purpose.

1. Basic Check

A basic check offers a DBS certificate that only shows your conditional cautions and unspent conviction (a conviction that isn’t removed from your record). It can include offences and violent crimes that result in a 2.5 years or longer prison sentence.

This check is for those individuals who want to independently request a DBD check for themselves. 2. Standard Check

A standard check involves conditional cautions, unspent convictions as well as spent convictions, final warnings, cautions, and reprimands. Spent convictions are the ones that resulted in a less than 2.5 years sentence and non-violent crimes; these convictions are removed from your records.

A standard check is done by an employer to perform a background check before hiring someone.

3. Enhanced Check

The enhanced DBS check will contain all the information involved in a standard check, along with the information from the local police. There is also an enhanced check with barred lists, this allows employers to know if an individual is barred from working in a certain role or with someone. Due to the nature of the PCO job, the government requires an enhanced DBS check with barred lists for all drivers.

DBS Update Service and Its Importance

The DBS Update Service includes any new information on the enhanced DBS certificate holders to help employers make swift decisions. Employers can look up new information (with consent) and decide whether an individual is suitable for continuing the role.

This service helps drivers keep their certificates up to date and sign up with different private hire service platforms instantly.

Subscribing to this service is a must for all drivers, and it eliminates the need to take a new DBS check in the future. If you don’t subscribe, your licence might be suspended, and you will be asked to carry out a new check before you can drive again.

Here’s Why Enhanced DBS Checks are Crucial for PCO Drivers in the UK

Regardless of the job, employers are responsible for good recruitment practices. Enhanced DBS Checks offer relevant information to authorities, like Transport for London, to make an informed decision before providing a PCO licence.

PCO drivers play a significant role in the UK. People from all areas prefer to ride comfortably and safely, so they opt for rideshare services. The drivers not only transport people from one place to another but also ensure their safety, comfort, and convenience. Rideshare companies like Uber, Bolt, and others also require a DBS certificate before hiring drivers on their platforms. This allows the public to be confident that proper checks were performed.

Having a DBS certificate allows PCO drivers to gain the trust of authorities and employers, as well as the public. Many people prefer to ride in private hire vehicles over public transport to stay safe and a DBS check ensures that.

Recommended Read: A Step-by-Step Expert Guide to Starting a Career as a PCO Driver

Process of Getting a DBS Check

There are five different stages of a DBS check.

1. Application Process The process starts with applying. You can apply online or through a Responsible Organisation approved by the DBS. This application will need the following information:

A list of all the addresses the applicant has lived in for the last five years
National Insurance number
Passport
Driving Licence
Debit or Credit Card

The Responsible Organisations can help you submit your DBS check application while ensuring you add all the correct information.

2. Application Receiving and Validation

During the second stage, the DBS accepts the application forms and checks for errors or omissions. If you submit an electronic application that fails validation, the system will automatically reject it before it can be submitted.

If you submit the application in paper form, it will be scanned onto the DBS system and returned for withdrawal or correction within 24 hours of receiving it.

3. Searching PNC

The next stage involves checking the application’s key data against the Police National Computer (PNC) to look for potential matches. If there’s a match, but DBS is still unsure, they will bring in the applicant for a fingerprint test. During this test, the police verify that the applicant is, in fact, the person who matches the description in their record.

If you apply for a basic DBS check, this will be the final stage of the process, and you’ll get the DBS certificate. PCO drivers are required to take enhanced DBS checks. Therefore, the following stages will be a part of your application.

4. Checking Barred Lists

In the next stage, licensing authorities will check the applicant’s data against the Adult’s or Children’s Barred Lists to look for a match. These barred lists are databases of the Independent Safeguard Authority (ISA) that tell employers and other authorities that a certain individual has been banned from working with children and vulnerable adults for their past behaviour.

5. Checking Police Records

It’s one of the most comprehensive and complex stages of a DBS check. Most PCO drivers worry that there’s something wrong with their application when the results take too long, but it’s just because of the complexity of the stage.

During this stage, the Enhanced DBS Check applications are sent to the police (and other relevant agencies) for an additional check before they go back to the DBS. If there’s a potential match against the details in the system, applications will go to the police force. In case where the police find something, they will assess the applicant’s information relevant to the workforce (in your case, the private hire vehicle industry). It’s up to them whether that information should be disclosed on your DBS certificate or not. The decision relies upon an agreed framework of all forces and agencies.

Sometimes the results of this stage can be delayed due to missing, incorrect or unclear information. The application then goes back to the DBS for clarification.

6. DBS Certificate Issuance

Once the check is complete, all your information will be disclosed on the DBS certificate and printed. You’ll receive this application at your current address, which takes up to 10 working days. You can use this certificate to show your employer or PCO licencing company. If there’s any mistake on your certificate, you can dispute it.

How to Avoid Delays on DBS Checks

While the standard time for receiving a DBS check certificate is 2–10 days, it can be delayed due to many reasons. Here are some ways to ensure that delays don’t happen due to your mistakes.

1. Opt for Electronic Form Submission Instead

Submitting a paper application can take a long time while electronic applications are submitted and validated instantly. In addition, there are more chances of errors and discrepancies when you manually fill out a paper form. Poorly filled forms also have a high chance of rejection and they will be sent back. So it’s best to submit an online application for the DBS check to avoid unnecessary delay.

2. Avoid Omissions or Outdated Information

Even if you submit your application online, there’s still room for error. Make sure that the details you enter in your application are correct, recent, and accurate. There are chances that the electronic system will reject your application in the first stage if it fails to validate. So you can correct your mistakes and apply again.

However, if the mistakes are caught during the third stage of the process, it will cause a significant (and unnecessary) delay. Make sure you double and triple-check your application and thoroughly proofread it before submitting it.

What Happens If There’s a Conviction on Your Record

In case, the authorities discover a criminal conviction on your record during a DBS check, it might not prevent you from becoming a private hire driver, depending on the crime. The licensing authority has the full right to decide whether an individual is fit for the job or not by considering the nature and severity of the crime.

If you want more information on DBS checks or application forms, you can reach out to our experts at G&M Direct Hire. We have been helping PCO drivers in London for over 15 years and would love to assist you.

Kick-Start Your PCO Career with G&M Direct Hire

At G&M Direct Hire, our goal is to streamline PCO services for aspiring and seasoned drivers. We started this company in 2008 and have helped over 3000 drivers succeed in their journeys. If you’re thinking of being a part of this industry, working with us will help you navigate the process without stress or hassles. As a leading PCO car hire in London, we offer a wide range of hybrid and electric rental cars for Uber and other rideshare platforms. These vehicles include Toyota Prius, Toyota Prius Plus, Nissan Leaf, Kia e-Niro, Volkswagen ID3, and more. Our PCO cars have affordable rents and we also offer free maintenance and servicing. Explore our complete fleet here or check out these insightful videos for more details regarding the PCO industry.