2.17 The objective of the Bureau is to widen access to criminal records and thereby improve protection of the vulnerable. The effectiveness of the Bureau is currently monitored in terms of output and turnaround time. These measures do not show whether the Bureau is providing better protection for the vulnerable and whether the Bureau has made a difference.
2.18 Little research is underway to see how the information contained in Disclosures is used to inform employment decisions, or to track whether crimes against children and vulnerable adults from those in positions of trust or authority have reduced. The Bureau commissioned MORI to carry out a survey of 1,000 Registered Bodies during January to March 2003. Two thirds of Registered Bodies responding said they had found the Disclosure process useful in guiding their recruitment decisions, and 18 per cent had decided not to employ a job applicant in the light of Disclosure information.
2.19 Possible further options to assess whether the Bureau is having an impact include:
■ Research into trends on the number of offences committed by those in positions of trust in the work place or voluntary organisations;
■ Quantitative and qualitative research with employers and voluntary bodies looking at the rates and types of applications. Trends in the number of applications yielding positive or negative results could provide an indicator of protection. Other indicators might be the number of recruitment decisions affected by Disclosure information, and the number of Disclosures containing information on serious offences considered likely to be pertinent to the positions applied for by applicants;
■ Surveying employers to measure the usefulness of guidance issued by the Bureau which aims to deliver the fair use of conviction information for the first time, and to ensure that consistent standards are applied across the country; and
■ Carrying out attitude surveys to measure the reduction in fear of crime felt by employers and parents.