About AccessNI

AccessNI supplies criminal history information, upon request, to organisations and individuals, primarily to help them make safer recruitment decisions. Some organisations are required by law to consider the suitability of applicants for certain positions or to ensure that they are not barred from working with vulnerable groups.

Who uses AccessNI

A criminal history check, also known as a disclosure, will search your details against UK criminal records and other police information and may disclose details of an applicant's criminal history. The checks could include a search of barred lists which are kept by central government. In Northern Ireland the checks are carried out by AccessNI.

AccessNI can be used by:

individuals
employers
Registered Bodies
Umbrella Bodies
volunteers
community groups

When AccessNI checks are needed

When you apply for certain types of jobs, or some voluntary positions, you may be asked to apply for a criminal history record check. Positions where you might need a check are:

work that involves close and/or regular contact with children or vulnerable adults
work in the Civil Service or other government body or in a government building
work in an airport where planes are based
work with controlled drugs
applying for a licence to drive a taxi or a public service vehicle (PSV)
applying for a licence with the Security Industry Authority
work in certain professions including accountancy and law

In all cases your employer, or voluntary organisation will advise you if a check is required, what type of check to apply for and what to do next.

What an AccessNI check consists of

An AccessNI check is a criminal history record check which provides different levels of information. They will let an employer know if you have been convicted of a criminal offence or are barred from working with children or other vulnerable groups.

In some cases, a check may also include disclosure of other non-conviction information, sometimes called soft intelligence, if the police consider it is relevant for the purposes of the position being applied for.

AccessNI checks

Cost of AccessNI checks

A check costs:

£26 – basic or standard check
£30 – enhanced check
£150 - one off registration fee for organisations to use AccessNI services - this includes the processing of registered body details and checks on signatories
£10 - registration of each counter signatory
individuals meeting the AccessNI definition of a volunteer may be entitled to a free check