Police record checks

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Have had a couple of jobs here in Switzerland were HR has asked for permission to talk to the police authorities which I have granted; since I have clear record! honest

But was wondering; have also lived in a couple of other countries; where no checks were ever made that I recall.

A vague recollection that the LGT guy who stole a lot of data already had a record? how did he get the job? They must have failed/been unable to check his record in his home country? [Germany]

Any ex-police on here who can shed some light on this; I am sure some employers in the UK do police checks; but wait would the police give such information out to overseas parties as well, assuming their not other police authorities?

2
When I worked in Munich my employer asked for a police record check.

They asked for it again a few years later at a contract renewal.

Cost about 18 euros and all i got was this lousy t-shirt - sorry a piece of paper saying "no records" or something.

edit: oh and I had to get it myself, so the information was given to the company through me - not given directly from the police.

3
I dont believe they do, unless you are wanted by interpoll or something like that.

I got my record here when I arrived in the country (that was the start of my record.....)

4
And how exactly do they know your wanted by Interpol unless they run a check ?

I guess otherwise it would have to be you admitting in a moment of madness that your wanted by Interpol

5
US Law Enforcement won't give out such information by request, unless the requestor has high clearance.

Most of these requests for records turn up empty. When push comes to shove, they will accept an affidavit that simply states such a person does not have a criminal record. These can be obtained through a notary.

The databases of these are not even homogenized for local level access. They are really only available at high level clearance.

6
I would be surprised if an employer in the UK could do it - unless it was working with children or security sensitive.

I assume the Data Protection Act etc would cover all that.

Not even sure if they are allowed to ask if you have a criminal record at an interview.

7

Not to sure how interpoll works but I believe if your passport shows up or you request something anywhere they have a database to find you.

Maybe no maybe yes

8
I usually just take along my newspaper clippings.

One or two of them are front page and really quite impressive. "Kick This Sociopathic Scum Out of The Country Now!" was my favorite.

9
No. British employers are not as anal as the swiss ones.

10
just out of curiosity - what kind of sample is that based on ? How many swiss and UK employers have you had ?

Personally I have had a security clearance check once in the UK, and asked for police record in Germany.

Also in UK there was one company that introduced random drug testing - something I never experienced anywhere else.

This is my first job in switzerland and have not been asked for anything, so from my small experience I would have to disagree.

11
Yes, but to have your passport come up in a database you need to run a check first......

12
In most countries you can only ask for a statement about your criminal record.

Here you can start at the Post Office pay about Fr 20 and you get a letter which you give to your prospective employer. This is a must for jobs with Securitas and Protectas and often when applying for Visas.

The same thing in England, where you apply in writing to the police authority where you last lived.

Security clearance is a whole different enquiry. The government tells the employer to ask the government to check you out. They start with the name and birthplace of your grandparents..... You have to supply a lifelong list of references... and they ask you friends which books you read...

13
The funniest thing here in CH is, that cleaners who come clean in an international company will have their police records checked before getting hired.

14
This is common practice in Asia (and Australia) an I guess a growing practice here. We have a contract with a client that insists we carry out such checks on any of our employees that goes to that customers premises.

15
In the UK, you can contact your local police authority for a certificate or for visas, etc., it's ACPO. Costs around the £20-£50 mark depending. I guess an employer would either ask you to get one or if authorised, do it themselves.

16
Just saw this; whereas US law enforcement per se will not provide to a any 3rd party requestor; there are US public record databases are accessible to ANY entity for a very little fee which DOES have this information. Most companies (if not all these days) in the US and i'm sure here in CH can source their background check to a 3rd party provider who can obtain your information without any problem. They just need your name and a birth-date and virtually all information is available.

With a US social security number, you whole life is available to any body.

For the record, I do have experience in law enforcement. Unauthorized 3rd party won't get anything from police station; Only (authorized LE or courts can)..but who needs that when you've got intenet based-public records.

As an example I had an issue with potential fraud with bank of america. I had a social security number (which is the tax Id number in the US which serves as ID number for EVERYTHING); with that I was able use the internet find the persons name, address, date of birth telephone number, business-ownership details, bank account and confirm any criminal record, and credit scores. I was able to call this person and find out who he was before the bank did, all in a matter of 5 minutes (turns out he was a nice guy, respectable, not a criminal, and it was bank of america glitch, he had his personal bank of america business server call me).

Oh..and I"m not a computer expert. don't know how it is here in CH, but in the US virtually ALL your information is available to the public. And that's freedom.

17

However, there is a caveat - the employer (or Swiss government) can request that YOU make such a request. I have had to do both FBI and local checks in order to get jobs and also to move here.