16 May 2003
Capita employees are to be given powers to complete criminal record checks and access police files in a move to prevent any further bottlenecks at the Criminal Records Bureau.
Home Secretary David Blunkett has tabled a number of amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, currently working its way through the Commons, which allow him to delegate powers and employment flexibility to private sector partner Capita.
Under the current arrangements, only civil servants are allowed access to criminal records and police computer files. Capita staff, under the public-private partnership, oversee initial administration.
The amendment is a major change for the Home Office, which wanted to keep confidential records in the public sector. It also represents something of a minor victory for Capita, which is understood to have pressed for an expansion of its powers after claiming that some of last summer's backlog in criminal record checks stemmed from problems with the Home Office's side of the CRB.
Capita and the Home Office are currently renegotiating the £400m contract after a review team recommended sweeping changes earlier this year following a disastrous first few months in operation.
Civil service unions are likely to be unhappy at the prospect of Capita's expansion, as are CRB users, which have been vocal about the poor performance of the company.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said the delegation powers would be used 'where bottlenecks occur'. She was also keen to point out that the Bill would contain extra provisions to ensure Capita personnel are prevented from passing on confidential information to unauthorised sources.
The amendments include making registered bodies, such as local authorities, legally responsible for verifying the identities of CRB applicants.
PFmay2003
