Enhanced DBS for DWP clinicians and London pedicabs
From 21 January 2026, enhanced DBS checks expand in England and Wales. If you plan to drive a pedicab in London or you’re a registered health care professional working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or its contractors, this affects you. We’ll walk through what changes, why it’s happening, and how to get ready.
Officially titled the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, the measure updates two existing sets of rules from 2002 and 2009. It was made on 25 November 2025 by the Home Office and laid before Parliament on 27 November, with Jess Phillips signing as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. The legal text is published on legislation.gov.uk.
The first change links to the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. If you apply for, or hold, a pedicab driver licence in London, the licensing authority will be able to request an enhanced DBS certificate to help decide your suitability. This now includes eligibility for checks against the children’s and adults’ barred lists.
The second change covers registered health care professionals, as defined in section 39(1) of the Social Security Act 1998, who are employed by the DWP or engaged via its contractors and sub‑contractors. Employers will be able to request an enhanced DBS certificate when considering your suitability to work in these roles.
Where a DWP‑engaged health care professional is assessing children or vulnerable adults, the regulations go further. You will be eligible for an enhanced certificate with checks of the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists, strengthening safeguarding for face‑to‑face assessments.
Let’s be clear about what an enhanced DBS check involves. It can include spent and unspent convictions, cautions and other relevant police information. When a role is eligible, it also confirms whether a person appears on a barred list that legally prevents them from carrying out regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults.
Timing matters for applications. The new rules start on Wednesday 21 January 2026 and apply in England and Wales. If you work in Scotland or Northern Ireland, different disclosure regimes apply, so check local guidance before applying.
If you’re seeking a pedicab licence, build the check into your timeline and budget. You will apply through the licensing process, provide identity documents, and wait for your certificate before any final decision. If you already have a licence, expect the authority to ask for an enhanced check at renewal.
If you’re a registered health care professional working with or for the DWP, ask your employer which level of check is needed for your exact duties. If your work includes assessing children or vulnerable adults, the barred list element should be included. Keep copies of your identity documents ready and, if offered, consider the DBS Update Service to keep your certificate current.
On fairness and privacy, the usual legal filtering rules continue to apply, which means some old or minor records will not be disclosed. You will receive your certificate and can dispute factual errors with the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Home Office’s note alongside the regulations says no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is expected.
For classrooms and study groups, there’s a wider lesson here. Safeguarding law is constantly maintained so it matches how we travel and how public services are delivered. Pedicab drivers carry the public through busy streets; DWP medical assessments can involve complex, sensitive interactions. Enhanced checks are one of the tools the state uses to keep those spaces safe.