Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

Duty to check whether person barred

10 After Article 36 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (declarations relating to the provision of barring information) insert—

“36ZA Duty to check whether person barred

(1) A regulated activity provider who is considering whether to permit an individual (B) to engage in regulated activity relating to children or vulnerable adults must ascertain that B is not barred from the activity concerned before permitting B to engage in it.

(2) A personnel supplier who—

(a) is considering whether to supply an individual (B) to another (P), and

(b) knows, or has reason to believe, that P will make arrangements for B (if supplied) to engage in regulated activity relating to children or vulnerable adults,

must ascertain that B is not barred from the activity concerned before supplying B to P.

(3) A person is, in particular, to be treated as having met the duty in paragraph (1) or (2) if condition 1, 2 or 3 is met.

(4) Condition 1 is that the person has, within the prescribed period, been informed under Article 32A that B is not barred from the activity concerned.

(5) Condition 2 is that—

(a) the person has, within the prescribed period, checked a relevant enhanced criminal record certificate of B which has been obtained within that period, and

(b) the certificate does not show that B is barred from the activity concerned.

(6) Condition 3 is that—

(a) the person has, within the prescribed period, checked—

(i) a relevant enhanced criminal record certificate of B, and

(ii) up-date information given, within that period, under section 116A of the Police Act 1997 in relation to the certificate,

(b) the certificate does not show that B is barred from the activity concerned, and

(c) the up-date information is not advice to request B to apply for a new enhanced criminal record certificate.

(7) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for—

(a) the duty under paragraph (1) not to apply in relation to persons of a prescribed description,

(b) the duty under paragraph (2) not to apply in relation to persons of a prescribed description.

(8) In this Article—

• “enhanced criminal record certificate” means an enhanced criminal record certificate issued under section 113B of the Police Act 1997,

• “relevant enhanced criminal record certificate” means—

  (a)

  in the case of regulated activity relating to children, an enhanced criminal record certificate which includes, by virtue of section 113BA of the Police Act 1997, suitability information relating to children, and

  (b)

  in the case of regulated activity relating to vulnerable adults, an enhanced criminal record certificate which includes, by virtue of section 113BB of that Act, suitability information relating to vulnerable adults.”