A Basic Disclosure (or Basic DBS check) is the simplest level of criminal record check.
It shows:
Any unspent convictions
Any unspent conditional cautions
Key points:
Anyone can apply for a Basic check, regardless of role
People working in England or Wales use a DBS Basic Check
People working in Scotland use a Disclosure Scotland Basic Check
Basic DBS checks do not qualify for a volunteer discount, as they are not considered mandatory under DBS guidelines.
Before January 2018, Disclosure Scotland handled all Basic Disclosures. Since then:
DBS handles Basic checks for work in England and Wales
Disclosure Scotland handles Basic checks for work in Scotland
A Basic Disclosure is useful when a role is not eligible for a Standard or Enhanced check but you still want insight into unspent criminal history. Basic DBS checks are entirely optional and not legally required for any role. Employers or organizations have the discretion to decide whether to conduct one, typically using them to verify unspent convictions. For volunteer applicants, it is important to note that the cost of a Basic DBS Check remains the same, as no volunteer discount is available for this type of check.