Naomi Long

Changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979 will widen access to “AccessNI Enhanced” checks.

This means that those hiring private tutors, carers and therapists, among others, will be able to ask prospective candidates for sight of their AccessNI Enhanced check before commencing or continuing with a service arrangement.  

The Department of Justice says this will give them greater peace of mind that the people who they let through their front door, or those they send their children to, do not have a history of abusing vulnerable people.

Under the current system, only those working for an organisation, such as a school or hospital, could request this information.

Justice minister Naomi Long said: “I’m delighted to be able to introduce this change today and to confirm that the statutory provisions covering this have been updated accordingly.  

“Safeguarding vulnerable people in our society is of utmost importance to us all. This change closes a long-standing gap in the criminal history disclosure process and will provide much assurance to many parents across Northern Ireland.”

AccessNI Enhanced checks disclose a person’s full criminal record — including spent and unspent convictions (subject to filtering rules) — and can also include disclosure of any police information considered relevant by the chief officers, and whether the individual has been barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.