ID cards trialled for background checks

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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.

Home Office minister Meg Hillier said: "Clearly, establishing identity quickly and accurately is absolutely crucial when dealing with people who want to work with children or vulnerable adults. Employers have to make sure that the person applying for the job is actually who they say they are... By linking your details to your fingerprints, the National Identity Scheme will make it easier and quicker to prove identity as well as protecting your personal details from fraudsters."

But Phil Booth, director of lobby group No2ID, said the results were useless as the ID cards will not be released for two years. "These systems are only as secure as the ID card, and we haven't seen these things," he noted.

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.

IPS chief executive James Hall said the ID card scheme could be expanded to other departments. "As we move forward with procurement and delivery of the Scheme, we are also taking forward other joint ventures with organisations such as the Border and Immigration Agency and retailers," he said in a statement.

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