Disclosure & Barring Service- Police Performance Update May 2026
05/06/2026
Police update highlighting current processing times, emerging trends and the key factors influencing turnaround times.
This is the latest summary of police performance in relation to DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks. This update highlights current processing times, emerging trends and the key factors influencing turnaround times across the UK.
Current DBS Processing Times
Performance across DBS services remained broadly stable through April, with average processing times as follows:
- Enhanced DBS checks: 13 days
- Standard DBS checks: 1.2 days
- Basic DBS checks: 0.7 days
Fast processing times apply to Basic and Standard checks. However, Enhanced checks take longer police forces must manually review them.
Police Involvement in DBS Checks
Police forces and law enforcement agencies review approximately 3 million DBS checks every year.
In april:
- The average time for police to return a check was 26 days.
- Some forces experienced delays, largely due to operational pressures such as, staffing shortages, training requirements and increased application volumes.
It is important to recognise that police checks are a crucial safeguarding step. Delays can occur because each case may require detailed review and in some circumstances, consultation with other organisation or legal teams.
Aged Cases
“Aged cases” refer to applications that have been with the police force for a longer than expected period.
- The police closed 72% of all ages cases initiated in early April by the end of the month.
- However, the overall number of ages cases increased, rising from 17,839 in March to 21,665 in April.
On a positive note:
- 40 out of 52 police disclosure units are managing fewer than 100 ages cases.
- Of those, 20 united have 10 or fewer ages cases, showing strong performance across much of the network.
What is driving delays?
While overall performance remains steady, several factors continue to impact processing times:
1.Recruitment and Staffing
Many units are actively recruiting due to vacancies, staff turnover or absences such as maternity leave or long-term sickness. New starters require training before they can operate at full productivity, which can temporally slow progress.
2.Increased Demand
Some forces have received higher-than-forecast-volumes, placing additional pressure on existing teams and increasing workloads.
3.System and Technical Issues
IT disruptions and system upgrades have occasionally slowed productivity, but active recovery plans are currently restoring normal operations.
4.Complex Casework
Police must review identified matches. This may involve:
- Checking multiple databases
- Liaising with other forces or organisations
- Seeking legal advice in complex cases
Even without disclosing information, reviewing these still takes time.
Why do Applications go to the Police?
The Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) sends Enhanced DBS checks to relevant police forces whenever an applicant’s details potentially match existing police records. This doesn’t necessarily mean the applicant has a record, it may simply be a similar name or personal detail.
Additionally:
- Applicants can be sent to multiple forces, if relevant information is held elsewhere
- For remote roles involving vulnerable individuals, checks may be completed even without a match
If police find information, they assess whether it is relevant to the role. They rarely disclose additional details, but this assessment still delays the check.
Managing expectations
It is natural to be concerned when a DBS check takes longer than expected. However, delays are often a reflection of:
- Thorough safeguarding processes
- Careful and responsible decision-making
- Temporary operational challenges within police units
The DBS continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies, using daily reporting to identity and prioritise any applications exceeding 60 days, ensuring they are progresses as quickly as possible.
What This Means for You
For employers and applicants, they key takeaway is that:
- Most checks still process quickly, particularly Basic and Standard applications
- Police involvement in Enhanced checks may delay the process
Ongoing recruitment and processes improvements across police units will drive better performance in the coming months.
Final Thoughts- SVS Comment
At Security & Vetting Solutions, we understand how important timely DBS results are for your organisation. While some delays persist, the broader picture shows the DBS system is actively recovering, with many units performing well and improvements underway where needed.
If you would like guidance on DBS turnaround times or support with your applications, feel free to get in touch with our team.
