DBS Clearance Letter

Fire services should be able to access an enhanced level of vetting for staff to better ensure the safety and protection of the public, according to the London Assembly Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee.

In February 2023, the London Fire Commissioner told the Committee that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) was only able to request a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance for its staff but that “all the other emergency services can do an enhanced check”.

The Government announced in April 2023 that all fire and rescue services will be able to use standard DBS checks for their staff.

While this is welcome, the Committee has written to the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire asking for the measure to be extended to allow access to enhanced level DBS checks.

It believes that this is particularly important for LFB in the wake of the Independent Culture Review, as these measures would better ensure the safety and protection of Londoners who engage with LFB staff in their homes.

The service carries out fire prevention work by providing fire safety advice to people in their own homes, with vulnerable adults prioritised for in-person visits. Over 35,000 in-person home fire safety visits were carried out in 2021.