How Zinc Conducts Address Checks for DBS Criminal Record Verifications

## Zinc's automated address checking process saves you time whilst ensuring compliance On the 6th of April 2022 the DBS released new guidance for organisations that want to digitise their DBS checking process. As per section 1.2 of the new guidance, this guidance is the equivalent to the longer standing guidance for checking documents physically for the DBS. Hence this new guidance does not supersede the existing July 2021 guidelines; employers can choose to follow either set of guidelines. Zinc is a technology-first business which supports the digital address checking route first and supports clients in manually checking physical address documents second. ## Programmed compliance If you are conducting a criminal check on Zinc and the applicant selects England & Wales residency, a DBS check is conducted. In this case, an ID check and address check will automatically be added to your request if they've not already been selected, ensuring compliance. ## Address route A text based address is collected, alongside the applicants name history and date of birth. A search is conducted via our certified IDSP in authoritative sources: credit agencies, national postal and electoral lists for matches. The search will return if an identity exists at that address, the strength of match and will return connected addresses over a five year period. This is in accordance with checking through "an authoritative source through a certified IDSP" in section 4.4.2 of the guidelines. Next, a physical document collection process is shown to the applicant within 1-2 seconds. The physical address document proof process is built into Zinc's address check and is included in the price. No matter how many documents we process to verify an applicants address, the applicant will just see one single flow. The applicant is shown a list of options for the types of acceptable physical address proof documents, including: - Utility bill (last 3 months) — paper copy only (gas, electricity, water, landline, broadband) - Bank or building society statement (last 3 months)- paper copy only - Council tax letter (last 1 year) — paper copy only - Benefits letter (last 1 year) — paper copy only (job seeker allowance, housing benefit, tax credits) - Mortgage Statement (issued in the past 12 months) The candidate needs to take a live photo of the physical document page, showing their full name, type of document and date of issue. They will also need to ensure that the document states their full current address.