Hi there,

Here's an article describing how a private company (ACPO) sells criminal record checks for immigration purposes:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...rds-check.html

"...Headed by retired Hampshire Deputy Chief Constable Ian Readhead, who has a £50,000 contract with ACPO, it provides the documents required by people applying for visas to work or live in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Until now visa applicants could obtain these details by making what was known as a ‘subject access request’ to the police. The maximum charge for these requests was £10.

But according to the US Embassy, ACPO approached them and offered to provide their own criminal record certificates. These are now the only documents acceptable for visa applications.
Under the new system, applicants fill out an online form and receive a statement about whether or not they have a criminal record.

According to the National Police Improvement Agency, which runs the Police National Computer, ACPO is charged 60p for each search.
However, ACPO charges the public up to £70 for its ‘premium service’, while its standard service – which takes ten days – costs £35.

Last year ACPO received an income of £197,633 from the service, which is not available from any other agency. It says its charges are reasonable because the service involves ‘additional processing elements including photography processing and a full report prepared for each application’..."[/B]

Sarah

This is criminal however this is the UK after all, if there is away to profit from people they will.

I am really surprised that the embassies agree to this.

I had one done in November and paid the £35 per person as did others here. I suspect that you will get a healthy debate on this matter.

Thanks for highlighting to us.

It would surprise me, that the search is logged as well telling the computer where we are intending to go. Maybe that what we pay for "applied to move to canada"

They don't call Britain "Treasure Island" for nothing. Everyone is on the make. Mind you when you get to Canada you have a whole new raft of bureacracy to pay through the nose for.
Regarding the enquiry being "logged" all data requests involving the PNC will be logged. There has to be an audit trail for anything involving the database.

It's sad. ACRO is completely unaccountable too. There's a small paragraph explaining how as they're not a public institution they can't be held to the Freedom of Information act. Cash flowing - as usual - from ordinary people to the old boys network.

Still, it's a free market, and everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it. Paid $150 for my recent police check for PR and worth every cent in my book.