Uber recently celebrated its much anticipated launch in Cardiff. However, not everyone was 100% thrilled that the service was coming to the Welsh capital. Many voiced their concerns over Uber safety issues and questioned what background screening process the drivers had to go through. So we wanted to debunk any false information and explain how the app-based service works with the DBS.

Uber has launched in countries across the world and in several cities in the UK including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Birmingham. Many of us may have previously had experience with the app when visiting London. And it is likely that you would have seen negative news stories such as the Uber driver in Maryland, USA who was recently charged with murder, which left some residents in Wales nervous of the prospect of this happening in Cardiff.

However, what many people don’t realise is that in different countries all over the world, Uber don’t have to go through the same background screening process as they do in the UK. In the UK, background checks are more in-depth and drivers have to go through the local authorities’ licensing process and also have a valid Enhanced DBS check in place before they are able to become an official employee.

Between 2014-2015, the DBS dispatched 29,227 checks across England and Wales for drivers classified as private hire or working within a taxi firm. However, that’s not to say that all of taxi drivers or Uber drivers consistently have a clean criminal record as there can be changes after the DBS check has been returned. Between 2014-2015, 6,774 disclosures were dispatched with convictions or cautions printed, meaning that in some cases, drivers would no longer be eligible, all depending on the seriousness of the crime committed. But unlike employers in international countries, UK firms would have access to these information changes and would be able to make informed recruitment decisions.

In an industry where drivers are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of individuals, sometimes at vulnerable points such late at night when they are intoxicated, criminal checks should always be a priority and we believe that these measures should also be included internationally and it is reckless not to do so. To ensure that you have the most relevant information, we believe taxi drivers should put into the DBS Updating Service and not doing so is unnecessarily compromising the safety of passenger and also the trust consumers have in drivers, especially after a negative news story is printed. We are lucky to have such a valuable system on offer in the UK and we should not waste it.

If you would like more information about background checks, enhanced criminal checks or the Updating service feel free to get in contact with our team by emailing: info@cbscreening.co.uk or call us on 01443 799 900