'Inappropriate criminal checks' made on job candidates

An attitude of "better safe than sorry" has led to some employers making "inappropriate" criminal record checks on their staff, an employment lawyer has asserted.

Stephen Levinson, a partner at RadcliffesLeBrasseur, stated that while there are a number of occupations where criminal record checks need to be done, employers with a safety first approach can call on the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to make a check.

People with legal jobs may be interested to read that while in theory, employers should follow the CRB code of practice, in reality, the CRB does not have the legislative authority to stop people from making inappropriate criminal checks.

"If you register with the CRB you can carry out these checks and I don't think there's any mechanism in the CRB to say you are carrying out checks on a wider range of people than is appropriate," he stated.

During a programme entitled Information Abuse, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Face The Facts, crime reduction charity Nacro stated that the CRB should begin monitoring applications for criminal record checks.

It stated that unnecessary checks undermine the law and could lead to a staff member becoming suspended or fired.

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