Home Office branded ‘incompetent’ over failure to improve criminal records checks

In a highly critical report, MPs have blasted the attempted reform of the Disclosure and Barring Service, saying poor planning has led to delays and spiralling costs.

According to the Public Accounts Committee, the initiative has overrun by four years and could cost £230 million more than was originally earmarked for the project.

The MPs also noted that a new facility created to make it easier and faster to check for changes to safeguarding information has only seen a “fraction” of the expected demand.

Committee chair Meg Hillier said: “Government has a crucial role to play in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults but the handling of this project has been a masterclass in incompetence.

“These are testing times for the Home Office. We continue to have serious concerns about its largest project, the emergency service network, which is critical to the ability of our emergency services to do their jobs and keep citizens safe.

“The department also faces huge challenges arising from the UK’s departure from the EU, not least potential threats to security at the border from day one of Brexit.

“On both DBS and ESN the Home Office appears either to have ignored or not fully understood the needs of the end user.”

A spokesman for the Home Office said: “We recognise that there have been delays in some aspects of the delivery and implementation of the DBS modernisation programme.

“However the DBS has launched the first phase of its new IT system and will continue to work towards providing their customers with a faster and more efficient service.

“We will fully consider the PAC’s recommendations and respond formally in due course.”

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