The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is aiming to step up its use of AI to support operational and support processes.
The plan is part of its strategic objective to deliver more through innovative technology, set out in its newly published strategy for 2025-28.
It includes an intent to do more with AI to streamline processes and support operational decision making. In the first year of the strategy, this will include pilots in the use of AI, and an effort to reduce the number of police referrals through an improvement in the police matching algorithm.
The latter comes after the number of barring referrals and DBS checks have increased over the past five years. It will be accompanied by working with the Home Office and National Police Chiefs Council on obtaining more efficient access to police intelligence.
In the second year, DBS plans to look at other options for reducing the number of police referrals, and implement new technology systems to provide greater resilience and support change requirements. In the third it will aim to offer faster service delivery and enhance the effectiveness of its operational and support processes.
Digital ID verification
It also has an ambition over the next three years to enable applicants for checks to prove their identity more easily through digital resources and reduce the reliance on manual ID verification.
DBS has also produced a business plan for the next year, which includes work on automation and self-service options with digital contact forms to improve its customer services.
