How Long Do Background Checks Take for Pre-Employment UK?

Time is an important factor when it comes to a pre-employment background check. Neither the employer or potential employee will want the private investigator to take their time with these checks as it can delay the recruitment process.

Unfortunately, there is no set duration within which a private investigator will complete such background checks in the UK. This is because there are several factors that are beyond the private investigator's control. Therefore, a private investigator can complete these background checks in just a few days or take several weeks depending on these factors.

The process of a pre-employment background check will start as soon as the private investigator is provided with the basic details of the potential employee. The private investigator will then use the contact information to get the consent of the potential employee.

Once they have their consent, the investigator will apply to various agencies and individuals for records pertaining to the individual. They will assess these records as they come. They may also have to physically visit some entities e.g. former employers, in some cases. However, a phone call is usually sufficient.

To initiate a background check, all a private investigator will need is the name of the prospective employee and their contact information. Additional details may be necessary, for example, if the individual in question has a fairly common name. Contact details are also necessary to allow the private investigator to contact the person being checked to get their consent.

The duration of a pre-employment background check is determined by the duration of the individual checks. Credit checks, identity checks and various other checks are unlikely to have a significant impact on the duration of pre-employment. This is because the results of these checks are usually available almost immediately.

On the other hand, criminal records, employment history and residential address checks can delay the process in some cases. An enhanced disclosure from the DBS can take as long as 8 weeks to be ready. The amount of detail required in such a check is definitely a factor, but the DBS may also have a backlog of requests which means it could take some time before they get to a private investigator's request.