Suspension process for no criminal record check application

Lead Volunteers must suspend volunteers if the criminal record check isn’t requested within 30 days (England and Wales) or 60 days (Northern Ireland, Scotland and British Scouting Overseas) after being added to scouts.org.uk or the criminal record check expiry date. 

Suspensions are not an automated process. Lead Volunteers need to complete the suspension process on scouts.org.uk, selecting ‘No valid disclosure’ as the suspension reason, and obtaining approval from the next relevant Lead Volunteer (Approver).  

The Lead Volunteer must also inform the volunteer and their Team Leader or Lead Volunteer (usually by telephone or face-to-face meeting). You should also follow this up in writing and you can use the email template provided.

If the criminal record check isn’t requested and the relevant Lead Volunteer doesn’t suspend the volunteer or close the volunteer’s role within seven days of the notification, the matter will be escalated automatically to the next relevant Lead Volunteer. 

You must also send them the notes for a person under suspension, you can find the most up to date version in POR Rule 16.7.

Like any other suspension, Lead Volunteers can make modifications to the suspension (e.g. to allow a parent or carer to attend award presentations or to drop off and pick up their child).  

Please read the Suspensions Process for Lead Volunteers for more information.

The suspension is automatically lifted on scouts.org.uk when a criminal record check application is recorded on scouts.org.uk.  

If the volunteer doesn’t have a criminal record check application in place after 30 days (England and Wales) or 60 days (Northern Ireland, Scotland and British Scouting Overseas), the Lead Volunteer may end the volunteer’s role. 

If the volunteer wishes to re-join Scouts in the future, they’ll need to restart their joining journey. 

When volunteers are required a criminal record check, they’ll receive a notification at scouts.org.uk when:

• Joining (or re-joins) Scouts
• Their criminal record check will expire, and a new one is required
• They’ve been suspended for not submitting a criminal record check
• They’ve been reinstated after submitting a valid criminal record check

Their Team Leader or Lead Volunteer will also receive these notifications.

The volunteer, their Team Leader and Lead Volunteer receive notifications informing the volunteer’s criminal record check will soon expire, and what they have to do to apply for a new criminal record check. 

The notifications are sent 90 days, 60 days and 30 days before the expiry date. 

If the criminal record check hasn’t been requested by the expiry date, the Team Leader and the Lead volunteer receive further notifications 1 day after the expiry date and:

• England and Wales: 20 days after expiry date.
• Northern Ireland, Scotland and British Scouting Overseas: 40 days after expiry date. 

The Lead Volunteer must suspend the volunteer if a completed criminal record check application has not been made within:

• England and Wales: 30 days after expiry date.
• Northern Ireland, Scotland and British Scouting Overseas: 60 days after expiry date.