The FA believes that football should be safe and enjoyable for everyone who chooses to participate in the game, and has therefore introduced an extensive Criminal Records Bureau checks programme to help ensure that all volunteers involved in youth football are safe to work with children.
The CRB checking process provides The FA with the opportunity to undertake a thorough checking of an individual’s history to make sure that the individual does not possess any convictions that might mean they are not safe to work in an environment with children and vulnerable young person’s.
The CRB check takes the form of an Enhanced Disclosure, which lasts for a period of three years. These Enhanced Disclosures show the following information:
• people’s conviction history (all offences they have been found guilty of),
• other information that may be considered relevant (i.e. a person that has had their children on a Child Protection register for sexual abuse)
• whether or not they are banned by the courts for working with children
When a disclosure is issued The FA CRB unit gets one copy and the applicant gets another, which is identical. If, however, the unit gets what is called Additional Information on a separate letter this will not show on the applicant’s copy. The Additional Information tells The FA of any on-going investigations, for example, someone who is having their computer monitored for downloading child abuse images or who is under surveillance for drug dealing. This information is only shared with the FA Case Manager.
Surrey County FA strongly recommends and considers it best practice for all youth clubs to adopt a CRB checking procedure for all of their volunteers and officials who work regularly with children.