The most detailed type of Police check carried out in Scotland is the Enhanced Disclosure. Until very recently, this was the type of check carried out on people working or volunteering with children or other vulnerable people, until that sort of checking was replaced by the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. Enhanced Disclosure still exists though, and there are a number of situations in which you might have to apply for one.

Who Needs Enhanced Disclosure

People applying for jobs or wanting to volunteer in certain types of work might need a more thorough check than the Basic or Standard Disclosure offers. This could include as part of a vetting process for people who put themselves forward as potential adopters or foster parents, people wanting to apply to work as a taxi driver, or people who are applying for gambling licences. Employers will know what sort of disclosure is needed for each position, and when applying to the local Council for a specific type of licence, they will tell you what checks you need to have done, and how to organise this.

Registration for Disclosure

The person who is the subject of the Disclosure will have to fill in the form with all of their personal details, but the form will then have to be checked and countersigned by someone registered with Disclosure Scotland before being sent off. Most large organisation and Councils will have someone registered. The person applying for the disclosure checks will have to show the registered person identity documents such as passport and utility bills to prove address, and the registered person will sign the form to state they have seen the documents and verified the applicant’s identity.

What is on an Enhanced Disclosure Form?

The enhanced disclosure check is more detailed than the other forms of disclosure certificate. It shows all unspent convictions and any spent convictions which the Police feel might be relevant to the type of position being applied for, any unspent cautions, details about inclusion on the Sex Offenders’ register, and any “other relevant information” which the Police hold about the person. This other relevant information is the part which worries many applicants, but these fears are often unnecessary. Things like being given points for speeding or a ticket for littering is not going to be relevant in most cases, but information that the Police have spoken to you several times over the course of a year about suspected violence or drugs offences might be.

Decision Making Tool

It is important to remember that whatever type of disclosure you are applying for, the Police and Disclosure Scotland never make recommendations about whether or not someone should be given a job or granted a licence. The disclosure form is simply a statement of fact, and using the information on the certificate, the employer makes a judgement call based on the information, the length of time since the offences happened, and what the applicant has been able to tell them about the circumstances of the offences.