Structure of the Bureau

1.4 The Bureau provides a One Stop Shop, from which individuals can, by sending in an application, request a Disclosure which details a person's criminal history, if any. The Bureau is a complex structure with the process of producing a Disclosure split between Capita and the Agency, with the involvement of Registered Bodies and local police forces.

Timetable of events

		1996	White Paper On the Record announces establishment of Criminal Records Bureau
		1997	Police Act passed. Part V provided the regulatory framework for the Bureau
		1998	Home Office announces creation of the Bureau
		Early 1999	Implementation team formed in the UK Passport Agency to set up the Bureau
		June 1999	Advertisement for Public Private Partnership placed in the Official Journal of the European Communities
		February 2000	3 Bidders short listed to produce a Technical Design Study, with contribution towards costs of £100,000 reimbursed
		June 2000	Best and final offers received against final contract requirements
		August 2000	Contract awarded to Capita
		February 2001	Home Office announce Disclosures will be free to volunteers
		April 2001	Fees for all types of Disclosure set at £12
		Spring 2001	Registered Bodies seminars and registration underway Service agreements signed with local police forces and the Police National Computer
		Summer 2001	Go Live delayed from August 2001 to March 2002 Customers demand a Paper Forms Route and this is added Enhanced Model Office/Pilot testing added
		November 2001	System tested
		February 2002	Model Office and Pilot completed
		March 2002	Live operations launched
		May 2002	Backlogs develop
		May - September 2002	Action by the Agency and Capita to improve business processes and reduce backlogs
		August 2002	DfES requires people working in schools to be vetted by CRB before taking up posts
		September 2002	Independent Review team appointed by the Home Secretary
		November 2002	The Bureau was processing more applications than new ones received, but still a significant backlog of aged applications, with delays occurring in local police force checks
		January 2003	Millionth Disclosure issued
		February 2003	Independent Review Team Recommendations announced
		June 2003	Revised service standards published in Business Plan 03/04 and fee increases announced. Service standards for turnaround time of applications being achieved and aged applications backlog eradicated. Two millionth Disclosure issued
		September 2003	The Bureau was established as a separate Agency

1.5 The Chief Executive of the Passport and Records Agency was, until 31st August 2003, accountable to the Home Secretary for the development, running, management, and performance of the Bureau. Three boards monitored the development and implementation of the Bureau (Figure 3): a Ministerial Advisory Board advised Ministers on the Bureau's plan and performance; a Programme Board managed the development and implementation of the Bureau, and was made up of senior managers of the Agency, Capita and the Association of Chief Police Officers; and a Management Board made up of senior managers from the Agency and non executive directors, was added in 2001 to focus on preparing for operations and on personnel and financial issues. Capita was a member of the Management Board (except for Agency internal matters). A Partnership Executive was also convened between the Agency and Capita, as an expression of the intention to work as a Partnership to develop the Bureau, although this was later discontinued. From September 2003, the Bureau has been established as a separate Agency under the Home Office, with a newly appointed Chief Executive.

3		Organisational Structure of the Criminal Records Bureau during development and implementation


		NOTE PNC = Police National Computer; List 99 & DoH List: Lists of individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children. Source: National Audit Office analysis