How Many People Are On The DBS Barred List?

How many people are on the DBS Barred List? As of 2023, there are around 80,000 people on one or both Barred Lists. These are people who have committed an automatic barring offence, people who have been referred to the DBS by an employer, or who have been placed on the list by the DBS in the course of a DBS check.

Why Are There 80,000 People On The DBS Barred Lists?

As mentioned in the intro, there are 3 ways an individual can be placed on the Barred Lists. We’ll go into more detail here:

• Auto-barring offences: People convicted of, or cautioned for, certain offences are immediately placed on the Barred Lists, with no recourse. A PDF list of automatic barring offences can be found here.
• Disclosure Information: For less serious offences, but ones that still warrant a place on the Barred List, the individual will only be added the next time they get an Enhanced DBS check. They will have the option to appeal against being placed on the Barred Lists.
• Referral Cases: Employers may notify the DBS of inappropriate staff conduct, if it has led to the dismissal of an employee. The individual will be notified that this has happened, and has the option to make a representation against being placed on the Barred Lists.

How Many People Are On The DBS Barred List? Minded To Bar Letters

If someone is being added to the Barred lists as a Referral Case or due to them getting an Enhanced DBS check, they will receive a “minded to bar” letter. This is an official notice of the intention to place them on the Barred List(s), the reasons for it, and the opportunity to appeal against the decision.

The DBS doesn’t want to put as many people as possible on the Barred List, they just want to make the right decision. If you get a minded to bar letter, but don’t agree that you should be placed on the Barred List, it’s worth lodging an appeal.

How Many People Are On The DBS Barred List? Summary

The latest we’ve heard from the DBS, is that around 80,000 people are on one or both of the Barred Lists, with that number increasing by a few thousand every year. People can be referred to the Barred Lists 3 different ways, with the majority being given a chance to appeal.

Further Reading – How Many People Are On The DBS Barred List?

If you’ve found our article, “How Many People Are On The DBS Barred List?” useful, you might find these posts interesting too:

• What offences get you on the Barred Lists?
• What happens if you live with someone on the Barred List?
• What offences will be filtered from a DBS check?

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About The Author

Kellie Dawson

Kellie is our in-house legal expert when it comes to DBS checks. With a background in the legal sector, she has become a recognised authority in this area.

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