BUREAU STAFF WORK-TO-RULE.

Byline: By HELEN HUNT

HUNDREDS of staff at the Liverpool-based Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) were today starting a work-to-rule over pay.

Union officials warn it could mean prospective teachers, nurses and foster parents having to wait double the time it usually takes to get clearance to work with children.

The action is being taken by up to 450 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union at the CRB in protest at a 0.5%pay rise.

The union will urge its members to refuse to work overtime and not to exceed targets for processing criminal record checks in protest.

The checks take around four weeks, but the union said it could now take more than eight weeks because of the action.

The work-to-rule could run for a number of weeks as no specific time frame has been laid down.

PCS spokesman Alex Flynn said: "Members are unhappy with a 0.5% pay rise. It is completely unacceptable given cost of living increases and inflation.

"This is a great work force and has hit every target and really got the bureau back on track."

The CRB conducts criminal records checks on behalf of employers throughout England and Wales.

The action comes during the final week of voting by all 270,000 members of the union for strikes over the government's public sector pay policy.

If civil servants vote in favour of strikes nationally it could mean a wave of industrial action, and the work-to-rule in Liverpool could be followed by a strike later in the year.

A series of strikes over public sector pay has already hit job centres, passports, coastguards and other government departments and agencies.

ACRB spokesperson said: "The CRB does not expect that the planned industrial action by PCS union members at the CRB from Monday 13 October will have any significant impact on its ability to delivery its service to its customers.

The CRB will remain open for business as usual."

The CRB serves a vital role in protecting children by providing employees with information detailing criminal convictions.