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Councillors: Vetting

Asked by Jayne KirkhamLabour (Co-op)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 11 June 2025UIN 57523

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will consider introducing enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks as a condition of being a councillor.

Answered by Jim McMahon

Disclosure and Barring Service checks (‘DBS checks’) for local government members are currently optional; it is for individual local authorities to adopt eligible DBS checks as they feel necessary.

I am considering the benefits and disbenefits to potential changes in local government member DBS check policy.

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