The government target is that 100% of checks should be completed within 60 days, but data from the Metropolitan Police shows that this target was met in just two months over the nine months data collected. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the number of people who are living in the London area and applying for new DBS checks, between January and October 2016 it was the Metropolitan Police who took the longest time to turn around DBS checks submitted to them – an average of 109 days or over three months. New figures released by an independent company which helps people submit their DBS check paperwork have thrown up continuing huge discrepancies between the fastest and slowest Police forces. It can however be very frustrating for people who have accepted a new position but have to wait for weeks or even longer for their checks to be completed and to start work. Nobody can argue that DBS checking for people planning to work with children or other vulnerable groups.
