Why Is My DBS Stuck at Stage 4?

Introduction – Why Is My DBS Stuck At Stage 4?

One common concern we often hear is, “Why is my DBS stuck at stage 4?” While most Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) applications are completed and dispatched within two weeks, some can face delays—particularly at stage 4 of the process.

The most frequent cause of these delays is when an applicant has lived at multiple addresses within the past five years. Each police force in the areas where the applicant has resided must carry out its own checks. If any of these checks are delayed, it can hold up the entire process.

Stages of a DBS Application

The chart below shows the different stages of the DBS application process. Stage 4 is where the vast majority of DBS delays originate:

Why Is My DBS Stuck at Stage 4?

Slow Local Police Force(s)

Stage 4 of a DBS check is carried out by the UK’s various police forces. Some forces are experiencing delays, so if an applicant’s 5-year address history falls under any of the following’s jurisdictions, delays are more likely (but not inevitable). As of January 2024, these are:

Previous Addresses

The primary reason DBS applications become delayed at Stage 4 is due to the applicant having multiple previous addresses. During the DBS check, each local police force corresponding to these addresses must review their records. The more addresses an applicant has, the higher the chance that one of these forces may be slower in completing their checks, causing a delay in the overall process.

Common Names

Having a common name, like “David Smith”—shared by over 6,000 people in the UK—can also cause delays during the DBS check. When an applicant has a common name, each police force must take additional steps to ensure that any information they have on record matches the correct individual. This extra level of verification can slow down the process, as authorities work to prevent any confusion between people with the same name.

What Can Be Done To Speed Up My DBS Check?

If you are wondering, “Why is my DBS stuck at stage 4?” you obviously want to know what can be done to speed it up. Unfortunately, nothing can be done unless a check has been stuck at one stage for over 60 days – at this point, the applicant or their employer can contact the DBS on 03000 200 190 to request an escalation.

Please bear in mind that this limit applies to all Umbrella Bodies, not just Aaron’s Department.

Hardship Requests

If an applicant faces financial hardship due to delays in their DBS check, it is possible to request an escalation before the standard 60-day limit. To achieve this, the applicant must contact the DBS on 03000 200 190 and explain their situation. The DBS may require evidence such as employer letters or bank statements. However, success is not guaranteed, and it is unclear what specific criteria the DBS uses to define “hardship,” making the outcome uncertain.

What If Nothing Happens to my DBS Check?

If, after the 60-day escalation has been raised, a further 10 working days pass and the check has still not been completed, another escalation can be made.

Your DBS provider (hopefully Aaron’s Department!) should contact the DBS to find which police force is responsible for the delay. We will then contact the police force directly and request they complete the check. To give you an idea of how frequently this happens, Aaron’s Department processes thousands of applications every month, but we make less than 10 of these calls each year.

The flowchart below shows what we can do when your DBS check is stuck at Stage 4:

How Can I Tell What Stage My Application Is At?

Online Tracking

The DBS hosts a tracking service, which you can log into using your customer reference number and a few personal details – you can read more about it here. Please bear in mind that a Basic DBS checks use a different tracking platform to Standard & Enhanced checks. Below, we’ve included some screenshots of the DBS’s tracking platforms.

Aaron’s Department Account Tracking

If you have an account with Aaron’s Department, you can automatically log in to the government’s tracker to view your application’s progress. If you’re an employer, you can do this for all your staff checks too!

Aaron’s Department’s Update Emails

Aaron’s Department users receive an email whenever a DBS application progresses to the next stage.

Standard & Enhanced Check Online Tracking

Basic Check Online Tracking

Summary – Why Is My DBS Stuck at Stage 4?

In summary, if your DBS application is stuck at Stage 4, there are a few common reasons for the check being “stuck”, such as having various previous addresses, or names.

Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to speed things up unless the application has been stuck in Stage 4 for 60 days – unless the applicant is experiencing acute financial hardship due to their inability to start working without a check.

Do You Need DBS Checks For Your Staff?

Aaron’s Department offers a quick, easy, error-proof, and very affordable DBS application platform.

No DBS Umbrella Body can influence how long a check will take once it’s with the DBS – that’s why we process every check we receive before 4:00pm on a weekday, the very same day (for no extra charge!). It’s our free fast-track guarantee.

After all, the sooner we process your application, the sooner your results will come back!

Further Reading – Why Is My DBS Stuck At Stage 4

If you have found our article, “Why Is My DBS Stuck At Stage 4?” helpful, check out these related posts below:

• What takes place at Stage 4?
• Who Can I Speak To About My DBS Check?
• Guide to the stages of a DBS check

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About The Author

John Schofield-Antoncich

John has processed more applications than days he has been alive, and has become the DBS expert. Got a question? He knows the answer!

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