Johnson promises Warley MP John Spellar he will address DBS 'scandal'
Boris Johnson has told a Black Country MP he plans to urgently address the "scandal" of Britain's disclosure and barring service (DBS).
The scheme has faced continued criticism after a Supreme Court ruling last year found that current rules on criminal records checks breach human rights laws.
The Home Office has said it is considering the ruling – a comment described as "guff" by Labour's Warley MP John Spellar, who pressed the Prime Minister on the issue in the Commons.
Mr Spellar said: "That Supreme Court judgement was in January 2019 – 18 months ago. The Lammy Report highlighted this problem in 2017. So, can we have no more dithering Prime Minister? Will you sort out this scandal now?"
In response Mr Johnson said he would lay out his plans in the near future, adding: "I do think there are issues with the DBS Scheme.
"Every MP will have had representations from people who feel they've been unfairly treated by it. It does need looking at, and we shall look at it urgently."
After the exchange Mr Spellar added: "We need to make sure this isn’t just warm words – too many people have suffered for too long."
In the Supreme Court ruling the Government was told to fix the DBS to allow people to find employment and move on from past mistakes.
It came after claimants had challenged the current rules requiring them to disclose multiple offences, no matter how historic or minor, and to disclose cautions received in childhood.
