FAQ

For some festivals and events it is a license condition that all staff are PNC (Police National Computer) checked prior to arrival on-site.

The PNC process is as follows...

A list of all staff is passed to the relevant county’s police force four to eight weeks before the festival.

The police perform a check against each name on the list.

We are informed by the police if anyone on the list fails the PNC check thus cannot work at the festival.

We are not given a reason by the police for any PNC failure.

Failures can be resolved – just because someone isn't passed straight away doesn't necessarily mean they cannot work at a festival. Sometimes the problem is merely old information e.g. an administrative issue the police have been trying to tie-up.

If you are concerned about the PNC check you can apply to Disclosure Scotland for a basic certificate. Only 'live' convictions, as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, are disclosed under the basic certificate. There are three separate conviction databases in the UK due to the three separate legal systems (Northern Ireland, Scotland and England & Wales). Minor driving convictions (e.g. speeding) are not normally recorded on these systems but are recorded at the DVLA.

If you would like your full conviction history you should apply to your local police force.

If you have lived in more than one area e.g. Northern Ireland and/or Scotland and/or England & Wales - you should apply to each police force. This type of request is done under the Data Protection Act 1998 and is called a 'subject access request'.

You can find Disclosure Scotland here: www.disclosurescotland.co.uk