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What is Access NI?
Access Northern Ireland (ANI) will be a criminal history disclosure service established by the Government under Part V of the Police Act 1997. It will provide access to criminal history information to individuals and, in certain circumstances, to organisations who are recruiting to sensitive positions. Typically, this will involve working with children or vulnerable adults.
It will replace the PoCVA system and the CRO service provided by PSNI.
Why do we need ANI?
The establishment of ANI is part of the Government's ongoing commitment to delivering ever more effective safeguards for the vulnerable in our society. ANI will put Northern Ireland at the leading edge of national systems and will ensure that Northern Ireland can play a full role in new and emerging systems of protection, such as the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
Who should use ANI?
Any individual who needs a copy of their unspent criminal record can use ANI. Organisations who recruit people to work in sensitive positions should also consider using ANI. In risk assessing any such post, employers should consider whether it qualifies for a Standard or Enhanced disclosure. In some cases (e.g. people working with children) there may be a legal requirement to seek a disclosure and employers should examine the legal framework within which they operate.
What will ANI provide?
There will be three disclosure services available from ANI:
- Basic Disclosure - a copy of a person's unspent criminal record. This service is available only to individuals to apply for their own record.
- Standard Disclosure - a copy of a person's full criminal record, including: spent and unspent convictions; and cautions. Only organisations registered with ANI can apply for this service.
- Enhanced Disclosure - a copy of a person's full criminal history, including: spent and unspent convictions; cautions; and any other material (sometimes known as 'approved information') considered by the police to be relevant to the position applied for. Only organisations registered with ANI can apply for this service.
Other information: UK wide checks. The aim will be a turn-around from request to information provision of ten days.
How much will it cost? Prices haven't been finalised, but it is likely the services will cost around:-
- £26 - Basic Disclosure
- £28 - Standard Disclosure
- £30 - Enhanced Disclosure
It will also cost £150 to register with ANI and £10 to register additional Counter Signatories.
When will ANI come online?
ANI will begin full operations in the early part of 2008. From April 2008, this will be the only means of obtaining disclosures.However, prior to the commencement of full operations, organisations will be given a period of time to register with ANI to receive disclosures, once the new arrangements come into force. ANI will write to users of the current system to advise them of what they should do.
Please Note: It is important that those organisations who wish to receive disclosures from the outset ensure that they are registered before system comes into full operation. ANI cannot issue a standard or enhanced disclosure to any organisation that is not registered.
Registration from 1st December 2007
What do I need to do now?
ANI are advising you to examine your business and the roles within it to consider whether you will need to register for disclosures
Who will be able to register?
- Can your organisation say yes to any of the following questions:
- Will you have a legal obligation to seek Disclosure Certificates for potential employees?
- Has your organisation a duty of care towards children or vulnerable adults?
- Is your organisation involved working in regulated and/or care positions within the meaning of the POCVA Order 2003?
- Is your organisation involved in work specified in or otherwise covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Northern Ireland Order 1979?
- Does your organisation supply staff to other organisations and obliged to carry out recruitment checks?
- Will you be applying for Disclosures on behalf of others who qualify?
If you have answered Yes: it is likely that you meet the requirement to become a registered body
If No: it is unlikely that you meet the requirements to become a registered body.
If you are unsure: Contact ANI to discuss:
Contact details: Access NI, Brooklyn, 65 Knock Road, Belfast BT5 6LE; tel: 028 9025 9165; email: access@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk
Source: http://www.accessni.gov.uk/index.html
