The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Purposes) Regulations 2025

Published: Thu 27th Nov 25 Came into force: Thu 18th Dec 25

The Regulations prescribed a new purpose under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, allowing police disclosure of information to aid suitability assessments for child-facing roles outside the UK.


These Regulations, made under powers in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, prescribe a new purpose allowing a chief officer of police to disclose information to assist a person located outside the United Kingdom in assessing an individual's suitability for a role working with children.

The instrument cites the relevant empowering sections, states it applies to England and Wales, and sets a commencement date of 18th December 2025.

Arguments For

  • Facilitates the safeguarding of children by ensuring employers outside the UK have access to relevant barring information held by UK police forces when making suitability decisions.

  • Extends the utility of data held by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and police forces to international recruitment contexts, ensuring consistency in assessing individuals seeking roles with children abroad.

  • Streamlines the vetting process for roles involving children based overseas by providing a formal mechanism for information sharing under existing safeguarding legislation.

Arguments Against

  • Raises potential concerns regarding data protection and jurisdictional compliance when sharing UK safeguarding information with entities operating outside the United Kingdom.

  • Could impose additional administrative burdens on chief officers of police if numerous requests for information arise from outside the UK for suitability assessments.

  • The provision allows disclosure based on an assessment 'to assist' the process, which may lack strict legal definition regarding the ultimate weight given to the information by the overseas entity.

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 50A(1)(d), 60(1) and 61(1) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

Citation, commencement and extent

1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Purposes) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 18th December 2025.

(2)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Provision of information to the police: prescribed purposes

2.

The disclosure of information by a chief officer of police to assist a person located outside the United Kingdom in assessing a person’s suitability for a role working with children is prescribed under section 50A(1)(d) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations prescribe a new purpose under section 50A(1)(d) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47) (“the Act”). Section 50A(1)(d) of the Act enables the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to share information with a chief officer of police for other reasons which may be prescribed, in addition to the existing purposes of crime prevention, detection and investigation, apprehending and prosecuting offenders and appointing individuals under the officer’s authority.

Regulation 2 enables a chief officer of police to disclose information provided by DBS, including whether an individual is on the children’s barred lists, to assist an employer or prospective employer assess the individual’s suitability to work with children where the appointment decision is made outside the United Kingdom.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

Related

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Derry, Londonderry) Regulations 2026

Wed 28th Oct 26

Restricted unmanned aircraft flight in Derry/Londonderry during the Halloween Festival on 31 October 2026.

Read More

The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 12 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026

Wed 28th Oct 26

Activated legal provisions restricting the parental responsibility of individuals who kill the other parent of their child, effective 18th December 2026.

Read More

The Code of Practice (Access and Unfair Practices During the Recognition and Derecognition Process) Order 2026

Tue 27th Oct 26

Enacted a revised statutory Code of Practice setting standards for workplace access and prohibiting unfair practices during trade union recognition and derecognition procedures from 30 October 2026.

Read More

The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026

Tue 27th Oct 26

Updated the procedural framework for the Family Court to review and manage prohibited steps orders issued by the Crown Court.

Read More