What is a PNC?
.jpg)
Background checks have become a cornerstone of the hiring process. Among these, Police National Computer (PNC) checks in the UK play a crucial role. But what exactly is a PNC check, and does it affect the way employers hire? Learn more about what a PNC is in this article.
What is a PNC?
The Police National Computer (PNC) is a database used by police and a range of other organisations in the UK. It holds information on offending behaviour for persons over the age of 10, including convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, and the dates and outcomes of criminal justice proceedings.
PNC searches are typically carried out via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), the criminal records check in the UK. Learn more about DBS Checks for Employers here.
Information Held By The Police National Computer (PNC)
As mentioned, the PNC is a central database containing a vast amount of information, but what types of information does it keep? Let's break it down:
People Information
The PNC primarily focuses on individuals who have interacted with the legal system in some way. This includes people with:
- Criminal Convictions: From minor offences to serious crimes.
- Ongoing Legal Proceedings: Those awaiting trial or sentencing.
- Outstanding Warrants: Individuals wanted by the police.
- Court Orders: Restraining orders, non-molestation orders, etc.
- Missing Person Reports: Both missing and found individuals.
- Escape Records: From prisons or other institutions.
- Driving Disqualifications: Bans imposed by courts.
- Driver Records: Details also held by the DVLA.
- Firearm Certificates: Records of legal gun ownership.
Vehicle Information
The PNC isn't just about people. It also holds comprehensive data on vehicles registered in the UK, mirroring information from the DVLA. This includes:
- Vehicle Details: Registration, make, model, colour, modifications.
- Keeper Details: Name, address, date of ownership.
- DVLA Markers: Flags for issues like untaxed or uninsured vehicles.
- Police Reports: Accidents, thefts, or other incidents involving the vehicle.
- Insurance Details: Confirmation of valid insurance.
Other Information Held
Beyond the basics, the PNC delves into greater detail. Some of the additional information stored includes:
- Personal Descriptions: Physical characteristics, tattoos, etc.
- Bail Conditions: Rules imposed on those released pending trial.
- Custodial History: Records of time spent in prison.
- Warning Markers: Flags for violent behaviour or other risks.
- Pending Prosecutions: Cases in progress.
- Cautions, Reprimands, Warnings: Various levels of police warnings.
PNC Check vs DBS Check: What’s The Difference?
It is important to note that a PNC check is more like an internal step during a DBS check. Hence, a PNC check doesn’t provide a document the way DBS checks provide certificates.
To better understand PNC’s involvement in DBS checks, you may refer to the chart and its explanation below.
Follow the same coloured arrows to see how the different types of DBS checks (Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with a Barred List) are processed.
Stage 1: The DBS receives an application for the check. The form is screened for errors or missing information. If there’s a problem, the form may be returned to the applicant or withdrawn altogether.
Stage 2: The Police National Computer (PNC) records are checked regardless if the application is for basic, standard, or enhanced.
- For a basic check, unspent convictions will be disclosed.
- For an approved standard check, unspent and spent convictions will be disclosed.
Stage 3: The Adult and Children Barred List is checked. This is only available to an approved application for an enhanced check with a barred list. Along with the barred list, it also discloses the unspent and spent convictions plus other relevant police records.
Stage 4: Other records held by the police are checked, along with spent and unspent convictions. This is available to an approved application for an enhanced check.
Stage 5: The DBS certificate is printed.
Can Employers Access The PNC?
The records are used to facilitate investigations like DBS checks and support various law enforcement activities across different agencies.
Access to the Police National Computer (PNC) is restricted to authorised personnel from law enforcement agencies and government bodies, such as the Disclosure and Barring Service. This is due to the sensitive nature of the information stored within the database.
In other words, employers cannot access them. It is, however, possible for an individual to access their own records.
Police National Computer (PNC) and DBS Checks: Your Role as an Employer
Internal PNC checks after a DBS application is validated does NOT affect employers. The information it discloses in the certificate, however, may affect your hiring decisions.
Your role as an employer depends on the type of DBS check you want to conduct.
For Basic DBS Checks
For basic checks, you may apply on behalf of your candidates after you get their consent. Then, you need to select one of the responsible organisations registered with DBS - they will conduct the check for you and send the certificate to the candidate via post.
The candidate may show the certificate to you and you may use the DBS update service to easily see if it’s updated.
Likewise, if you conduct at least 1000 basic checks annually, you may apply to become a responsible organisation yourself.
For Standard and Enhanced Checks
For Standard and Enhanced checks, the first thing still is to get the candidate’s consent. After this, you need to:
- Get in touch with an umbrella body and ask for an application form.
- Give the form to the candidate and ask them to complete it.
- The applicant gives the completed form back to you along with IDs to prove their identity.
- Send the completed form to the umbrella body or DBS.
- DBS sends the certificate to the applicant.
The applicant may again show their certificate to you and you may check its validity.
Overall, when it comes to PNC checks and DBS, your role is to get the applicant's consent to apply for the check, make sure the information in the form is complete (for standard and enhanced checks), check the physical certificate, and validate it usually through the DBS update service.
Veremark For DBS and Other Pre-Employment Checks
Conducting DBS checks is crucial to safeguarding your organisation, employees, and the public. But the process doesn't have to be complicated. Partner with Veremark, a trusted provider of comprehensive background screening solutions.
Whether you need a Basic, Standard, or Enhanced DBS check, or want to verify employment history, references, and qualifications, Veremark makes it simple. Customise your requirements, receive detailed results, and easily integrate them into your existing systems for faster, more informed hiring decisions.
No contracts, no lock-in period – get in touch with us today.
Read More
%20(1).webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
FAQs
A PNC check is not a document or an official check. It refers to the process of checking the Police National Computer (PNC) during a DBS check. This is standard procedure for every type of DBS check.
Only the police and a selection of official government & security bodies have access to the PNC. An individual cannot get a PNC check. However, a Subject Access Request (SAR) can be submitted to see what information the PNC contains about you.
The PNC is a database of criminal records and is used in DBS checks. The Police National Database (PND) holds intelligence information rather than records of convictions. This system captures information from hundreds of other systems from 51 contributing police forces and law enforcement agencies. The PND covers POLE information: People, Objects, Locations, and Events.
FAQs
This depends on the industry and type of role you are recruiting for. To determine whether you need reference checks, identity checks, bankruptcy checks, civil background checks, credit checks for employment or any of the other background checks we offer, chat to our team of dedicated account managers.
Many industries have compliance-related employment check requirements. And even if your industry doesn’t, remember that your staff have access to assets and data that must be protected. When you employ a new staff member you need to be certain that they have the best interests of your business at heart. Carrying out comprehensive background checking helps mitigate risk and ensures a safer hiring decision.
Again, this depends on the type of checks you need. Simple identity checks can be carried out in as little as a few hours but a worldwide criminal background check for instance might take several weeks. A simple pre-employment check package takes around a week. Our account managers are specialists and can provide detailed information into which checks you need and how long they will take.
All Veremark checks are carried out online and digitally. This eliminates the need to collect, store and manage paper documents and information making the process faster, more efficient and ensures complete safety of candidate data and documents.
In a competitive marketplace, making the right hiring decisions is key to the success of your company. Employment background checks enables you to understand more about your candidates before making crucial decisions which can have either beneficial or catastrophic effects on your business.
Background checks not only provide useful insights into a candidate’s work history, skills and education, but they can also offer richer detail into someone’s personality and character traits. This gives you a huge advantage when considering who to hire. Background checking also ensures that candidates are legally allowed to carry out certain roles, failed criminal and credit checks could prevent them from working with vulnerable people or in a financial function.
Trusted by the world's best workplaces
APPROVED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
.png)
.png)
and Loved by reviewers
Transform your hiring process
Request a discovery session with one of our background screening experts today.
