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Correct a DBS Certificate

An inaccurate DBS certificate can affect employment, volunteering or professional registration, particularly where disclosed information is incorrect, outdated or linked to the wrong record. Aldwych Legal can connect you with a solicitor from our network to assess the issue and advise on challenging the information.

Disclosure Checks

When Disclosure Information Appears Wrong

An incorrect DBS certificate can affect employment, volunteering or professional registration, particularly where disclosed information appears incomplete, inaccurate or wrongly attributed.

The appropriate response depends on the certificate type, the information disclosed, applicable disclosure rules and whether the concern involves factual error or police judgment.

Aldwych Legal can assess the circumstances, explain potential options and, where appropriate, connect you with a solicitor from our network for further advice.

Issues That May Require Careful Review

Accuracy of personal and identity information
Whether disclosed records relate to you
Recorded offences, dates and disposal outcomes
Certificate type and role eligibility
Filtering and legally disclosable information
Relevance of local police information

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Certificate Disputes

Legal Assistance With DBS Certificate Corrections

Aldwych Legal provides focused assistance where a DBS certificate contains inaccurate, incomplete or disputed information. We can advise on the appropriate correction or challenge, assist with representations, and connect you with a solicitor from our network where formal legal intervention is required.

Personal Details Corrections

We assist with inaccuracies in identifying information on a DBS certificate, including names, dates of birth and other personal particulars. Correcting these details can help ensure the certificate is accurately linked to the right individual.

Police Information Challenges

We can assist where additional information supplied by a police force appears irrelevant, inaccurate, unfair or unsuitable for disclosure on the certificate. A solicitor from our network may advise on the representations available in an appropriate case.

Criminal Record Disputes

Where conviction, caution or other recorded information appears inaccurate, incomplete or wrongly attributed, we can advise on challenging the certificate information. Our assistance is directed at correcting the record and addressing the legal basis for the dispute.

Escalated Correction Advice

If a DBS certificate correction or dispute is not resolved, we can advise on potential further legal options. Where appropriate, we can connect you with a solicitor from our network to consider formal representations, pre-action advice or other available remedies.

Adam Hussain

Meet Your Specialist Education Lawyer

Adam Hussain has successfully handled education disputes involving leading institutions. His wider casework includes matters involving UCL, London South Bank University, Edge Hill University, the University of Central Lancashire and City, University of London.

His experience spans allegations of plagiarism and unauthorised AI use, academic appeals, suspension and expulsion, disputed placements and fitness-to-practise investigations. These are cases in which a carefully prepared response can be critical to a student’s degree, professional reputation and future career. His education work also extends to school exclusions and special educational needs placement concerns, helping families challenge decisions affecting their children’s access to appropriate education.

Adam’s approach is built on close examination of the institution’s own evidence and procedures. He scrutinises assessment instructions, authorship records, supervisor reports and panel reasoning to identify what is unsupported, inconsistent or procedurally unfair. He then develops focused representations and appeals, distinguishing grounds for challenging an allegation from evidence relevant to mitigation or the severity of a sanction. Clients receive a clear explanation of where their case is strongest and what is needed to support it.

An LL.M. graduate of King’s College London, Adam has undertaken Barriser training at The University of Law and is pursuing PhD research in Legal Science at Royal Holloway, University of London. His academic background complements practical experience in public law, professional regulation, human rights and institutional decision-making.

As Director of Aldwych Legal, Adam brings this combination of academic understanding and contested casework to the firm’s education practice.

How We Help

Practical Support To Correct DBS Certificates

Aldwych Legal can help you understand what needs correcting, organise supporting material and communicate your position clearly. Where appropriate, we can connect you with a solicitor from our network to prepare or pursue a DBS certificate dispute and challenge inaccurate information.

01

Identify Inaccuracies

We examine the DBS certificate alongside the information you provided and identify entries that may be inaccurate, incomplete or wrongly attributed. This focused review helps establish what needs clarification and whether a formal correction or dispute should be considered.

02

Organise Supporting Evidence

We advise on relevant supporting material, such as identity documents, records or explanations addressing the disputed entry. We help organise the evidence into a clear account, ensuring the proposed correction is presented accurately and consistently.

03

Prepare The Dispute

We can prepare clear correspondence setting out the correction sought, the factual basis for it and the supporting evidence. Our guidance helps you challenge DBS certificate information in a structured way, without overstating the position.

04

Coordinate Legal Support

Where direct engagement becomes difficult or the issue requires formal legal input, we can help coordinate communications with the relevant bodies and connect you with a DBS certificate correction solicitor from our network, where appropriate.

Locations We Serve Across the UK

A Closer Look

Important Matters When Challenging DBS Certificate Information

A DBS certificate dispute may involve more than an obvious factual error. Careful consideration may be needed of the certificate’s level, the source and accuracy of information, relevant personal circumstances, supporting documents, and the appropriate route for raising concerns with the relevant organisation.

Accuracy and Record Matching

The information may need checking against source records, including names, dates and convictions, to identify whether an error, mistaken identity or incomplete context affects the certificate.

Certificate Level and Eligibility

The DBS level requested and the role’s eligibility can affect what information should appear, making it important to distinguish disclosure issues from genuinely incorrect certificate information.

Relevance of Disclosed Information

The age, nature and circumstances of disclosed matters may require careful assessment, particularly where filtering rules or changed circumstances could affect how information is understood.

Evidence and Challenge Route

Available documents, explanations and corroborating evidence may influence how a DBS certificate dispute is assessed, alongside identifying whether concerns should be directed to DBS or another relevant body.

Why Choose Us

Why Choose Aldwych for DBS Certificate Correction

Correcting inaccurate or incomplete DBS information can require careful judgement about what matters and how best to communicate it. Aldwych Legal offers a clear, tailored and strategic perspective, with access to appropriate legal professionals where needed, helping clients approach a DBS certificate dispute with confidence and a realistic understanding of their position.

01

Tailored Legal Perspective

Advice is shaped around the specific circumstances behind the disputed certificate, rather than relying on generic explanations. This individual focus helps keep decisions relevant to the client’s concerns, evidence and intended outcome.

02

Clear Strategic Judgement

Clients receive measured guidance that distinguishes important issues from distracting detail. Aldwych’s practical, strategic approach supports informed decisions about challenging DBS certificate information without overstating prospects or creating false certainty.

03

Connected Legal Expertise

Where circumstances call for specialist representation, Aldwych can connect clients with solicitors or barristers in its network. This coordinated access broadens the support available while keeping advice aligned with the client’s wider position.

04

Practical Communication

Legal issues surrounding a DBS certificate can feel consequential and difficult to interpret. Aldwych communicates in straightforward terms, giving clients a grounded understanding of their options and helping them engage with the situation constructively.

DBS Certificate Correction FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What information can be corrected on a DBS certificate?

A DBS certificate may be corrected where it contains factual errors, such as incorrect personal details, duplicated information, or records belonging to someone else. Issues concerning disclosed convictions, cautions or police information may require investigation by DBS and the relevant police force.

When can I raise a DBS certificate dispute?

You may raise a DBS certificate dispute if information is inaccurate, incomplete, incorrectly attributed or unlawfully disclosed. A dispute is not usually available simply because accurate information is unwanted. DBS will consider the issue and may consult the police force involved.

How do I challenge DBS certificate information?

You generally challenge DBS certificate information by contacting DBS, explaining the disputed entry and providing supporting evidence. Depending on the information involved, DBS may refer the matter to the relevant police force. Our legal team can help prepare clear representations and supporting documents.

What evidence supports a DBS certificate correction request?

Useful evidence may include identity documents, previous certificates, court paperwork, police correspondence, or records showing that information belongs to another person. The strongest requests identify the precise error, explain its impact, and provide reliable documents directly addressing the disputed information.

Is there a deadline for disputing DBS certificate errors?

In most cases, disputes should be raised with DBS within three months of the certificate being issued. If you discover the problem later, you should still seek advice promptly and explain the delay, as DBS may consider whether a late dispute can proceed.

Can an employer act before the certificate correction finishes?

An employer may decide how to proceed while a dispute is being considered, depending on its policies and legal obligations. You can provide evidence that the certificate is under challenge and request a fair opportunity to explain the position before any final decision.

Do I need a DBS certificate correction solicitor?

You do not always need a DBS certificate correction solicitor, particularly for straightforward administrative errors. Legal advice may be valuable where disclosure could affect employment, the information is disputed, or DBS and the police force have rejected your initial explanation.

What happens after submitting a DBS correction request?

DBS will review the request, may seek information from the relevant police force, and then decide whether the certificate should be amended. The outcome may confirm, remove or correct information. We can help assess the decision and advise on appropriate next steps.

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