What is an Enhanced Disclosure?
An Enhanced Disclosure is a printed record containing information from the Police National Computer, local Police intelligence and a check of Government lists of those people banned from working with children. The FA uses the information to help decide if a person is suitable to help in children's football. For more detailed information about Enhanced Disclosures click here
Why do people in football need to have a CRB check?
Not everyone in football needs to have a CRB check. CRB Enhanced Disclosures are only for specific roles. The law requires that The FA does not allow people banned from working with children to be involved in youth football. The CRB check is how The FA identifies people who are banned. It also allows The FA to make responsible recruitment decisions about whether people have criminal histories that might be a potential risk to children. If they do, The FA can prevent them from being involved in youth football.
How do I know if I need to do an FA CRB Disclosure?
Those who are working or volunteering directly with children and young people in football need to have an Enhanced CRB check. This includes those who are teaching, training, instructing, supervising, giving advice or guidance, treating or caring for children or driving for the Club.
But you need to have a regular involvement. This is defined as once a month or more, more than twice in 30 days or overnight.
The following people are usually required to have a check in football which is predominantly for or with U18s e.g. youth football this would include; Club Welfare Officers, team managers, coaches, first aiders, referees and regular club drivers.
You do not need a check to watch your child play, nor to run the line occasionally nor to drive your own child and his/her friends if this is a private and personal arrangement with other parents. Sometimes Club Chairmen and Secretaries need a check because they also help out at training and matches. These roles do not require a check if they are simply administrative roles.
If you have been asked to have a check and don’t think you need one please ring The FA CRB Unit on 0845 210 8080 or e-mail CRB@TheFA.com for advice and assistance.
If you are running a football activity or have been asked to check certain individuals and are not sure if they need a check, then please either speak with your County FA Welfare Officer or e-mail CRB@TheFA.com for advice and assistance.
How do I get an FA CRB Disclosure?
Many people do lots of different things in football. Choose the role you spend most time on. You only need one FA CRB check to cover everything in affiliated youth football, no matter the number of roles you may have.
If you are involved with a youth club, then speak with your Club Welfare Officer to get a check done. If you are involved in a youth league, then speak with your Youth League Welfare Officer to get a check done. If you are a referee, then contact your County FA Referee Development Officer, to get a check done.
If you are unsure what to do e-mail CRB@TheFA.com or ring 0845 210 8080 to talk to a member of The FA CRB team
If you are working in a private soccer school and have been asked to get a FA check please e-mail CRB@TheFA.com you may not be able to have an FA CRB check but we can give you advice.
What is the minimum age for an FA CRB Disclosure?
The legal minimum age is ten years old but The FA does not currently recommend the process for anyone under 18 years of age.
How much does it cost?
The FA charge is £12 for volunteers. This covers all the administration, advice, guidance and any actions needed as a result of the Disclosure.
For those taking an income from the game the CRB charges an additional fee of £36. This money goes directly to the Home Office. This means if you are taking an income from the game the cost is a total of £48.
The Home Office is very strict in its definition of volunteers. To read more about the CRB definition of volunteer go to www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk - ‘Glossary of Terms’.
If you are not sure how much you should be paying, please e-mail CRB@TheFA.com for more guidance.
I have had a check for my work, sport or voluntary role. Do I need another one?
Yes. The FA has taken advice on this and there are real risks in carrying Disclosures from one job to another. The CRB does not endorse portability. For full information about the risks and dangers please click here.
How long does it take to get an FA CRB Disclosure?
On average this takes 6-8 weeks but some can take longer. If the form is properly completed, identity properly checked and payment made, the form will go to the CRB in Liverpool within 48 hours of processing at The FA CRB Unit.
If there are mistakes or there is information missing, the applicant or Club Welfare Officer will be contacted and asked to provide whatever is missing. It is up to the applicant whether they do this quickly and speed up the process or take their time and slow it down.
If this information is not provided after 35 days, the application may be archived. This means that the applicant will need to complete a new application if they still wish to be involved. The CRB in Liverpool aims to issue 90 per cent of Enhanced Disclosures within 35 days of receiving a properly completed and checked application.
You can now check the progress of your application online via the CRB website. To do this you need to keep the Form Reference Number from your Disclosure application. This begins with an 'F' and has 10 digits.
Then you can click here to track progress.
Why do some checks take longer than others?
You should not assume there is a problem if a Disclosure takes a long time. Delays may be due to a number of reasons:
It could be that the person has had a lot of address changes
There may be a number of people with the same name and date of birth and the Police have to get the correct record
There may also be delays in the local Police forces. To see if there are delays click here.
To see where a Disclosure is in the CRB processes click here.
The FA CRB Unit chases the CRB nationally for any outstanding Disclosures after 60 days. It is not allowed to chase them before then.
What if there is something on The FA CRB Disclosure?
The FA is very fair but it does have a duty to make sure the information it is given does not affect the safety of children. Old and juvenile offences are not viewed as seriously as recent offences. Minor and financial crimes are usually disregarded on the Disclosure and treated as if it were clear of convictions. For more about this see the question below ‘Who will see my Disclosure?’
Recent assaults, violence with prison sentences, sexual crimes and drug usage and supply are taken more seriously. Every Disclosure is assessed separately taking into account the person’s age at the time of the incident, the time expired since the conviction, the way the court dealt with the crime and other relevant information.
The FA will sometimes ask you about convictions on your CRB and ask you to provide two character references. This is to reassure The FA you are suitable to be involved in children’s football. When the enquiry process is complete and The FA is satisfied there is no risk the Disclosure will be treated as if it were clear of convictions. For more about this see the question below ‘Who will see my Disclosure?’
To speak to someone in confidence about your history, please call The FA CRB Unit enquiry line on 0845 210 8080 or e-mail CRB@TheFA.com with your query.
To find out more about the requirements on The FA to use Disclosures fairly and legally click here.
What happens if I change clubs or register with a new County FA?
Speak to the Club Welfare Officer at your new club. They can access The FA's Online Safeguarding Children Service to ensure that your Disclosure has been accepted. You will need to provide evidence of your identity, but not your Disclosure certificate. You do not need to show your Disclosure to anyone.
Will I need to renew my CRB?
Given that a CRB check is a snapshot in time, it is best practice to renew a CRB check every three years. However, since the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is due to be implemented from July 2010, The FA's current priority is to enforce checks for those who have not yet been checked. CRB renewals are therefore not generally being enforced across football at this stage.
Some County FAs and clubs have chosen to pursue renewals and this is, of course, best practice.
Where can I get more information?
For more about the CRB process visit www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk
To find out more about the law and ex-offenders visit www.nacro.org.uk
Use CRB@TheFA.com to e-mail enquiries, or to speak with someone at The FA CRB Unit ring 0845 210 8080.
How do I make a complaint?
To make a complaint about any aspect of the CRB process you need to decide if the complaint is about:
The FA (e.g. about The FA's CRB Policy) - click here or call 0844 980 8200 4895
The company operating The FA CRB Unit, TMG CRB (e.g. if you are unhappy about the service you have received) - contact CRB@TheFA.com or call 0845 210 8080 or write to:
Complaints TMG CRB
1 Wilford Business Park
Ruddington Lane
Nottingham
NG11 7EP
The Criminal Record Bureau in Liverpool (e.g. mistakes on your CRB) - visit www.crb.gov.uk to 'Quick links' and click on complaints.