The system for processing criminal record check requests, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), has risked adopting the controversial online ID database authentication portal used by the Government Digital Service.
DBS checks are required for anyone working with children and vulnerable adults as well as those working in care such as Bilingual Carers London company https://www.guardiancarers.co.uk/services/bilingual-carers. It is important that all of these individuals are checked to ensure that they are suitable people to be working in these environments and that they have no relevant convictions against them.
Using the online system allows users to apply directly for DBS checks online. However, during the online application process, you will need to be able to confirm your identity directly with GOV.UK Verify.
System Issues
GOV.UK Verify was designed to confirm an individual’s identity for logging in and accessing services such as universal credit or tax payments. However, the government system took six years to develop and went live three years later than planned.
Past statistics from the government showed that many people are not able to use the service correctly, with only 38 per cent of users successfully identifying themselves through GOV.UK Verify.
The Government has defended the success rate by explaining the system saves taxpayer money and compares favourably with other online identity services.
On two separate occasions, the system failed to work successfully for married tax allowance receivers and farmers. One major problem is that Experian and other identity providers fail to recognise any individual with no digital footprint. These would include women adopting their married names and young adults.
Government Gateway Replacement System
HMRC has recently confirmed that it will abandon the Cabinet Office’s current system in favour of developing a new replacement system for Government Gateway.
A great deal of the Government Digital Service budget is earmarked for growing Verify, which is aiming to have procured 25 million customers by 2020. The Land Registry plans to use Verify for its digital mortgage service to ensure borrowers can efficiently verify their identity and smoothly progress to signing the mortgage deed.
Upon visiting the website, you can pick from a list of companies to verify your identity, passing your details to institutions such as the Post Office or Barclaycard to run the check.
In a consultation on creating a will using Verify, the Law Commission called attention to the problem that the system focuses on verification of the existence of the individual rather than ensuring the person is who they claim to be.