criminal records bureau: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Official, Legal/Administrative
Quick answer
What does “criminal records bureau” mean?
A government agency responsible for storing, managing, and providing access to official records of criminal convictions and cautions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A government agency responsible for storing, managing, and providing access to official records of criminal convictions and cautions.
An official body that maintains a database of individuals' criminal histories, used by employers, licensing bodies, and government agencies to conduct background checks. The term is often used more broadly to refer to the system or process of checking someone's criminal past.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Criminal Records Bureau' (CRB) was a specific, now-defunct government body. In the US, there is no single federal agency with this exact name; the function is performed by the FBI's criminal history division and various state bureaus. Americans are more likely to say 'criminal background check' or 'running a check'.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries strong connotations of formal employment vetting, particularly for roles involving children or vulnerable adults. In the US, it is a more generic administrative/legal term for checking someone's past.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to its historical status as a specific institution. In US English, the phrase is used but is less institutionalized as a proper noun.
Grammar
How to Use “criminal records bureau” in a Sentence
The [Noun] requires a [criminal records bureau] check.Her application was sent to the [criminal records bureau].They obtained a certificate from the [criminal records bureau].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “criminal records bureau” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The organisation will CRB-check all applicants.
- She needs to be DBS-checked for the role.
American English
- The company will background-check all candidates.
- The position requires you to be vetted.
adverb
British English
- The forms were processed criminal-records-bureau-efficiently.
American English
- The system works background-check-quickly for most cases.
adjective
British English
- The CRB-check process can take weeks.
- He presented a clean criminal-records-bureau certificate.
American English
- The background-check results were clear.
- It's a standard criminal-records verification procedure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
All new hires for positions of trust must pass a criminal records bureau check before their contracts are confirmed.
Academic
The study examined the societal impact of widespread access to criminal records bureau data on employment rates for ex-offenders.
Everyday
I need to get a criminal records bureau check done for my volunteer coaching licence.
Technical
The API allows for automated queries of the national criminal records bureau database, subject to strict privacy protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “criminal records bureau”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “criminal records bureau”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “criminal records bureau”
- Incorrect article: 'I need criminal records bureau check' (missing 'a/the').
- Wrong preposition: 'check from the bureau' (more natural: 'check with/by the bureau').
- Capitalisation error: Using capitals ('Criminal Records Bureau') when speaking generically, not about the former UK agency.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the CRB merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) in 2012 to form the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
A 'criminal records bureau check' is a specific type of background check focused solely on an individual's official criminal history. A general 'background check' can include employment history, credit history, and educational verification.
No. In most jurisdictions, an individual's criminal record is protected privacy data. Checks are typically only conducted by authorised employers or agencies with the subject's explicit, written consent.
Processing times vary by country and agency workload. Standard checks can take from a few days to several weeks. More complex cases or manual searches may take longer.
A government agency responsible for storing, managing, and providing access to official records of criminal convictions and cautions.
Criminal records bureau is usually formal, official, legal/administrative in register.
Criminal records bureau: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ɪ.nəl ˈrek.ɔːdz ˌbjʊə.rəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ə.nəl ˈrek.ɚdz ˌbjʊr.oʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As clean as a CRB check (UK informal)”
- “To have a shadow on one's record (metaphor)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CRB = Can't Risk Bad hires. A Bureau that keeps Records of Criminal activity.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FORMAL GATEKEEPER (controlling access to opportunities), A PERMANENT LEDGER (an unchangeable official account of past actions).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a criminal records bureau?