A trial of the ID card system for criminal records checks has been dubbed a success by the Home Office but criticised by lobbyists as pointless.
The joint pilot between the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) tested the use two online services requiring passports or ID cards for background checks on people who want to work with children.
The trial was held earlier this year across cities in the UK. Volunteers had their backgrounds checked and approved online using a passport-based system and an ID card-based system, and were interviewed by independent firm FDS about the experience.
Of the 160 trial participants, 96 per cent said the passport-based service would be an improvement on current arrangements, while 87 per cent said the ID card service would be stronger. The participants were previous users of the CRB system as well as members of public bodies, including 20 people from the CRB and IPS.
He added that requiring people to get a passport and eventually an ID card just to get a job was unfair. "This is putting a requirement on people to get a passport to get a job. Quite a lot of people don't get passports," he said. "A passport is a document for travel, and the IPS is trying to link it into an idealised system... The CRB check is an entirely sensible thing to do, but you shouldn't need to be on a register for that."
The CRB has checked 13 million such records since its start in 2002. Aside from security improvements, it is hoped that streamlining services - including those tested in the trial - could reduce background check turnaround times from the current four weeks to four days.
"The CRB constantly works to enhance its processes and accuracy. The National Identity Scheme will help make the Criminal Record check even faster and more robust," said CRB chief executive Vince Gaskell in a statement.
