Starting Monday, 2nd December 2024, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will implement revised fees for its DBS checks, reflecting the need to meet rising operational costs. The changes are designed to support DBS in maintaining its high standard of safeguarding services across the UK.
Under the new structure, the fees will be as follows:
– **Update Service** – £16 (per year)
– **Basic DBS Check** – £21.50
– **Standard DBS Check** – £21.50
– **Enhanced DBS Check** – £49.50
– **Enhanced DBS Check with Barred List(s)** – £49.50
DBS fees, which are reviewed annually, are set to cover the costs of each specific type of check, with each rate evaluated individually to ensure the service remains efficient and effective. In recent years, DBS has reduced fees where possible, including a reduction in October 2019, which saw Standard checks drop from £26 to £21.50, a rate that remains consistent under the new changes.
The updated fees have been carefully assessed and approved by the DBS board, Home Office, HM Treasury, and the Minister for Safeguarding. They remain significantly below current Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rates, ensuring affordability while sustaining the quality of DBS services.
A spokesperson for DBS emphasised, “Quality remains at the core of what we do, and these new fees will help us continue to provide the high level of safeguarding that society relies on.”
These adjustments are essential for DBS to continue meeting its mission of safeguarding the public, as demand for rigorous and timely background checks remains high across various sectors. The revised fees will ensure DBS can maintain its commitment to delivering efficient and effective services for all users.