Updated DBS Guidance

This DBS update covers two important topics: 

• Completing UK driving licence details correctly on DBS applications
• The Changes to Regulated Activity with Children which came to effect on 1st September 2026 

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DBS- UK Driving Licence

The driving licence details submitted on a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application form play a significant role in the search process undertaken by both the DBS and local police forces. The DBS extracts data from the personal details and driving licence number to cross-referenced and search associated names against police records.

It is therefore extremely important to include all current and previous names to ensure the accuracy of the search and that no names are missed.

Mandatory Document Selection in AccesSVS

Our AccesSVS portal contains built-in validation for UK driving licences.

It compares:

• Driving licence number
• Name
• Date of birth

The system can identify discrepancies such as:

• Missing middle names
• Incorrect dates of birth
• Data entry errors

To ensure safeguarding compliance, you must ensure documentation types are accurately selected.

For UK Driving Licences 

Select:

Document Type: UK Driving Licence

Country of Issue: United Kingdom 

For Non-UK Driving Licences 

Select:

Document Type: International Driving Licence

Then select the correct country of issue.

Understanding a UK Driving Licence Number

A UK driving licence number contains elements of the licence holder’s personal information, including:

Surname

The first five characters represent the surname:

• SMITH
• DAY99 (surname shorter than five characters)
• EDWAR (for Edwards)

If the surname contains fewer than five letters, the remaining spaces are replaced with the number 9.

Date of Birth

The next six characters represent:

• Year of birth
• Month of birth
• Day of birth

For individuals assigned female at birth, the first digit of the birth month is increased by 5.

Examples:

• Male born on 23 June 1990: 906230
• Female born on 23 June 1990: 956230

Initials

The following two characters contain the initials of the first and middle names:

• John Smith = JS
• Claire (no middle name) = C9

Security Characters

The final three characters are generated randomly to help prevent fraud and identity guessing.

Please note: 

The two-digit number shown to the right of the licence number is the issue number and is not part of the 16-character driving licence number.

Using the correct document type and ensuring licence details are entered accurately can help reduce application delays and validation errors.

Need to process DBS checks? Learn more about our Criminal Record Check service.

If you have any questions regarding driving licences or have any other DBS queries, please contact our criminal records department on the details below.

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Important DBS Update

The DBS has announced an important change to the definition of regulated activity with children, which came to effect on 1st September 2026.

What has changed?

The supervision exemption has been removed from the legal definition of regulated activity with children.

Some paid staff and volunteers who teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children were not considered to be undertaking regulated activity, if they were sufficiently supervised by someone already carrying out regulated activity.

From 1st September 2026, this exemption no longer applied.

This means individuals may be classed as carrying out regulated activity with children even if they are supervised by another member of staff.

What does this mean for employers?

From 1st September 2026, organisations are eligible to request:

Enhanced DBS Checks with Children’s Barred List information.

For individuals who:

• Teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children; and
• Carry out these activities frequently enough or overnight

A role will be considered frequent if it takes place:

• On more than 3 days in any 30-day period, or
• At least once overnight between 2:00am and 6:00am.

Who could be affected?

Following the new changes this may affect:

• School volunteers, including reading helpers and classroom assistants
• Sports coaches and assistant coaches
• Youth group, charity and community group volunteers
• Outdoor activity instructors
• Children’s activity leaders and support staff

For example, the following individuals may now be considered to be carrying out regulated activity:

• A school reading volunteer attending every week
• A volunteer supporting a children’s music club twice per week
• An outdoor activity instructor working regularly with school groups
• Assistant coaches working with children’s sports teams

However, individuals carrying out activities infrequently, such as a volunteer helping once a month, may remain outside the definition of regulated activity. 

The definition of regulated activity still depends on how often the work happens.

Examples

Example 1 – weekly school reading volunteer

A parent volunteers at a primary school to listen to children read. They do this every Monday morning during term time. Because a teacher is always nearby and supervises them, the school decided that the parent is sufficiently supervised in line with the guidance set by the Department for Education (DfE) and asked the parent to apply for an Enhanced DBS check without a check of the Children’s Barred List.

Before 1 September 2026, the parent was not in regulated activity with children because a teacher supervised them. Following the legislation change, from 1st September 2026, the parent will be in regulated activity with children and will be able to get an Enhanced with Children’s Barred List check.  The school should consider the guidance from DfE on these changes to ensure the volunteer is still suitable for the role.

Example 2 – outdoor activity centre

A paid activity instructor works at an outdoor activity centre. They lead climbing and canoeing sessions for different groups of school children 4 days a week. Teachers are present and a senior instructor always supervises the instructor’s work.

Before 1 September 2026, the instructor may not have been in regulated activity with children if the centre decided that the senior instructor supervised them sufficiently. From 1 September 2026, the instructor will be in regulated activity with children because they instruct children often enough. The centre should consider if the instructor needs an Enhanced with Children’s Barred List DBS check.

What should organisations do?

We recommend reviewing roles and:

• Identify supervised staff and volunteers working with children.
• Check whether activities are undertaken frequently enough to meet the new criteria.
• Review existing DBS certificates.
• Determine whether Children’s Barred List checks may now be required.
• Update safeguarding, recruitment and volunteer onboarding processes

If you are unsure how these changes may affect your organisation, our team can help review your roles and DBS eligibility requirements.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

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