AccessNI Corporate Information
This page holds documents about the criminal history disclosure process, information for organisations registering with AccessNI, specific guidance for police chief officers when considering whether to disclose information on an AccessNI check and information about how AccessNI uses the personal information provided by applicants.
Short guide to criminal records disclosure regime
This document provides useful information about what is held on a criminal record and how it may be disclosed to keep children and vulnerable adults safe. There is also information about the different types of AccessNI checks and how to apply for them. Finally, there is information about the rehabilitation of offenders’ legislation in Northern Ireland and how this and the AccessNI filtering scheme can impact on the information disclosed.
AccessNI countersignatory pack
In order to countersign an application for a Standard or Enhanced check, an organisation must register with AcecssNI as a Registered Body. The Registered Body is normally an employer, a voluntary organisation or a body that will conduct checks of behalf of employers, known as an umbrella body. To become registered the organisation must undertake to submit 20 or more checks each year.
A Basic disclosure application can be processed by an individual or an organisation. An organisation can become registered with AccessNI as a Responsible Body if they undertake to submit 20 or more Basic checks each year.
The countersignatory information pack provides organisations with information about registration and how to process applications.
NIDirect account (NIDA) for AccessNI applications
When making an application to AccessNI for registration, to become a countersignatory or for a disclosure certificate the individual will need to create their own nidirect account (NIDA) to complete the application process.
Understanding Criminal History Information on Disclosure Certificates
Criminality information presented on an AccessNI certificate can be complex, especially given the range of data sources and the nature of information that could potentially be disclosed. AccessNI has produced the following guidance to help those viewing certificates to better understand the content on a certificate, and to risk assess this in order to help make safer and fairer recruitment decisions.
- Understanding Criminal History Information on Disclosure Certificates
- Criminal History Assessment Tool
AccessNI checks: Working with adults or children in the charity and voluntary sector
Charities and other groups sometimes find it difficult to understand whether volunteers or employees require, or are eligible, for an AccessNI check. The purpose of the guides is to help those in the voluntary/community/charity sector to determine what type of check they can and should get, and in what circumstances they should do so.
Working overseas with child or adults at risk
Criminal record checks may be available, as part of the recruitment process to employers and voluntary organisations who are sending people to work/volunteer overseas with children and/or adults in other countries. This most often happens in overseas aid work or charitable work. AccessNI in conjunction with the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland and ACRO, has produced a decision tree to help organisations find out if they are eligible for criminal record checks in these circumstances and which organisation they should go to for these checks.
Statutory guidance for disclosing police information on certificates
Police forces across the UK, including PSNI can provide information for disclosure in Enhanced AccessNI certificates, where this information is reasonably believed to be relevant to the position the person wants to take up and where it ought to be disclosed. In deciding whether to disclose information, chief officers of police forces must give regard to statutory guidance published by the Department in 2015.
Independent Monitor
The Independent Monitor (IM) can at the request of an applicant, review police information (whether from PSNI or any other UK police force) disclosed on an enhanced AccessNI certificate. The IM’s statutory functions extended to Northern Ireland in 2015 and his annual reports can be found at the link below.
AccessNI Retention and Disposal Policy
AccessNI Retention and Disposal Policy