'Urgent' DBS system review after BBC investigation

'Urgent' DBS system review after BBC investigation

The UK government is "urgently" reviewing a system used to keep young and vulnerable people safe after a BBC investigation revealed how a nursery worker arrested for downloading indecent images of children was able to get another childcare job.

Officials are now examining the case of Kristian Parry, who was later sentenced to two years in prison, to "address the issues" raised.

Parry's arrest was not reflected via the Disclosure and Barring Service's (DBS) Update system, which only searches for pre-conviction information every nine months, leaving potential employers unaware.

Parents at the nursery said the system was "not fit for purpose". A senior politician described it as "fatally flawed".

Parry, 26, was jailed in March after admitting possessing indecent images and falsifying job references to obtain a role at a nursery in Leeds.

The sex offender then went on to secure work in the baby room at another nursery in the city two months after his arrest, while still on bail.

The BBC understands that Parry's DBS check was clear because the online "Update" service used by many employers, only searches for non-conviction information, including arrests, every nine months.

"The DBS system needs a complete overhaul, it's not fit for purpose and it allowed this man to gain access to children," one mother told the BBC.

"Calling something an update service that only updates every nine months and doesn't actually inform employers of any status changes doesn't feel like much of an update service to me."

The DBS said, on average, it completes 2.6 million Basic-level checks each year, with 36,000 revealing a conviction.

The body said they were important "because they provide relevant information about an individual's criminal history".

There are other levels of checks which offer relevant non-conviction or caution information, often demanded by settings such as childcare.

Some of the families at the Leeds nursery where Parry worked following his arrest started an online petition after learning about how the DBS Update service works.

"I think what's happened in our nursery has highlighted such a gigantic loophole to the system, that I think it would be incredibly difficult for anyone to ignore," one mother said.

West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, Alison Lowe, said she shared parents' concerns about the Update service.

"We're writing to government to tell them that the DBS system is fatally flawed," she said.

"We know that the Department for Education is telling nursery and early years providers to use the update service when they're recruiting as part of their safer recruitment processes but that's a fallacy, it's not safe."

Parents discovered that Parry had pleaded guilty to downloading indecent images after reading BBC online coverage of his sentencing at Leeds Crown Court and recognising his photograph.

"It was panic really, I ran upstairs to my husband's office and showed him the article," one mother said.

"Our daughter was at nursery at the time and we just went and picked her up instantly but we had so many questions; how on earth did this happen?

"I do feel the reason he was able to secure this job was because the DBS system failed us.

"It was designed to stop this scenario exactly and it was the factor that allowed it to happen."

Families contacted BBC Look North and West Yorkshire Police to inform them that Parry had started working at the second nursery in July 2025 while he was on bail and under investigation.

Neither nursery is being named to protect the identities of children who attended them. None of the offences he was sentenced for involved children in Parry's care.

One mother told the BBC there was shock, confusion and anger among parents.

"Nurseries have these apps and I was able to look through and see that he'd changed my child's nappy, there were pictures with him in the background," she said.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed it was investigating a further possible offence of fraud by false representation as a result of the new information about Parry.

However, some parents have expressed concerns that a wider investigation is not being carried out into whether any children at the second nursery could have been harmed.

"Children can't report these crimes, they can't report anything so why are the police not questioning someone's intentions who purposely sought access to children after being arrested?"

Another mother told the BBC she felt "disappointed" with West Yorkshire Police.

"Their communication hasn't been great and there's also the fact that his bail conditions have allowed him to seek employment at a nursery when they should have been checking him, it shouldn't have happened."

Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said the details of the case were "extremely concerning".

"A person on police bail with a condition to specifically not work with children should never have been cleared through the DBS system.

"This has wider concerns beyond nurseries as schools, sports clubs, social care organisations and many more rely on the DBS to provide accurate and up-to-date information to help them make safe recruitment a reality.

"We need to know how this individual was allowed through the net and what needs to change with the update service to make sure it cannot happen again."

West Yorkshire Police said in a statement: "The investigation has been reviewed as part of the complaints process and contact has been made with the Home Office about the DBS update service highlighting this particular case.

"We have accepted and apologise for the fact that there could have been better communication with parents and guardians during the initial investigation.

"We have identified this as an area of learning which we will address internally, and this has been fed back to complainants."

A government spokesperson said in a statement: "These crimes are absolutely sickening, and our thoughts remain with the families affected.

"This predator should not have been allowed to work in a nursery setting.

"We are urgently looking into the circumstances of this case so we can address the issues it has raised."

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