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| UK criminal vetting errors double | UK criminal vetting errors double |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The number of people wrongly identified as criminals or mistakenly given clean records has doubled in the past year, government agency figures have shown. | The number of people wrongly identified as criminals or mistakenly given clean records has doubled in the past year, government agency figures have shown. |
| There were errors in 1,570 cases in the year to 31 March - up from 680 in the the previous 12 months. | There were errors in 1,570 cases in the year to 31 March - up from 680 in the the previous 12 months. |
| The figures from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which vets people working with children, are contained in its annual report published next month. | The figures from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which vets people working with children, are contained in its annual report published next month. |
| A CRB spokesman said overall accuracy remained "extremely high" at 99.96%. | A CRB spokesman said overall accuracy remained "extremely high" at 99.96%. |
| The figures apply to those wrongly branded criminals, mistakenly given a clean record or those accused of more serious offences than they actually committed. | The figures apply to those wrongly branded criminals, mistakenly given a clean record or those accused of more serious offences than they actually committed. |
| Teachers, childminders and nurses are likely to be among the victims of the mistakes. | Teachers, childminders and nurses are likely to be among the victims of the mistakes. |
| Disclosure quality and accuracy is heavily reliant on the information supplied by the individual and is subject to fluctuations CRB | Disclosure quality and accuracy is heavily reliant on the information supplied by the individual and is subject to fluctuations CRB |
| The agency, part of the Home Office, was set up in 2002 to check people working with youngsters for criminal convictions, cautions and reprimands. | The agency, part of the Home Office, was set up in 2002 to check people working with youngsters for criminal convictions, cautions and reprimands. |
| Anybody branded a criminal by the CRB would have to go through an appeals process to clear their name. | Anybody branded a criminal by the CRB would have to go through an appeals process to clear their name. |
| A total of 3.9 million certificates were processed by the agency in 2008/09 - up 500,000 on the year before, its annual report shows. | A total of 3.9 million certificates were processed by the agency in 2008/09 - up 500,000 on the year before, its annual report shows. |
| The CRB said in the first 11 months of 2008/09 accuracy rates exceeded previous years, but a dip in the quality in the final month dragged the overall figure down. | The CRB said in the first 11 months of 2008/09 accuracy rates exceeded previous years, but a dip in the quality in the final month dragged the overall figure down. |
| A spokesman said: "As part of its continuous improvement regime, the CRB's aim is always to issue 100% of disclosures free from error. | A spokesman said: "As part of its continuous improvement regime, the CRB's aim is always to issue 100% of disclosures free from error. |
| "Disclosure quality and accuracy is heavily reliant on the information supplied by the individual and is subject to fluctuations." | "Disclosure quality and accuracy is heavily reliant on the information supplied by the individual and is subject to fluctuations." |
| Home Office Minister Lord Brett said: "In 2008 a further 18,000 unsuitable people were prevented from gaining access to children and vulnerable adults as a direct result of a CRB check, bringing the total to around 98,000 in the past five years." | Home Office Minister Lord Brett said: "In 2008 a further 18,000 unsuitable people were prevented from gaining access to children and vulnerable adults as a direct result of a CRB check, bringing the total to around 98,000 in the past five years." |
| Conservative shadow Home Office minister Damian Green said the CRB should be as vigilant in not hounding the innocent as it is in exposing the potentially dangerous. | Conservative shadow Home Office minister Damian Green said the CRB should be as vigilant in not hounding the innocent as it is in exposing the potentially dangerous. |
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