UK employers widen pre-employment checks as fraud and insider risk rise

The useful part

UK employers expand background screening as fraud concerns reshape recruitment | Onrec We apologize, our site does not support Internet Explorer 6 or 7. Please view our site in a different, standards-adherent browser such as Firefox, Safari, or Chrome, or upgrade your Internet Explorer browser to Version 8 or Version 9. UK employers are increasingly expanding pre-employment screening beyond standard criminal record and right-to-work checks as organisations respond to rising fraud and growing pressure to strengthen corporate risk management.

How it works

• Unlike a traditional credit check, the search is conducted as a soft inquiry and is designed to identify significant adverse financial events rather than assess an individual's credit score.
• Jack Mellor, CEO at Personnel Checks, said: "We're seeing a noticeable shift in how employers think about recruitment risk.
• Historically, organisations focused on meeting compliance requirements through checks such as right to work and criminal record screening.
• Increasingly, however, businesses are asking whether they've done everything reasonable to protect their organisation.
• Rather than relying on multiple providers, organisations are also looking to consolidate background screening through a single platform, enabling adverse financial checks to sit alongside identity...

What to take from it

"As fraud becomes more sophisticated and governance expectations continue to increase, employers want a more rounded understanding of risk when recruiting into positions of financial responsibility. Businesses recruiting for roles involving access to company finances, payment systems or sensitive information are increasingly seeking broader background screening as they look to identify potential vulnerabilities before hiring. Statistics estimates there were around 4.2 million fraud offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025, while fraud prevention organisation Cifas estimates fraud costs the UK economy around £219 billion every year.

Example or evidence

• Employers are increasingly reviewing recruitment policies and asking what additional due diligence is appropriate for roles involving access to money, financial systems or commercially sensitive information.

Details worth keeping

The shift comes as fraud remains the UK's most prevalent crime. The company has responded by launching Adverse Financial Checks, enabling employers to identify serious adverse financial history, including bankruptcies, insolvencies, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) and County Court Judgments (CCJs), as part of a wider background screening programme. Sep 2026 | Talent Acquisition Hiring Beyond the Degree:

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