Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)

An executive agency of the U.K. Home Office, set up to help organizations make safer recruitment decisions. The CRB acts as a “one-stop-shop” for organizations, checking police records and, in relevant cases, information held by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). In the United Kingdom, staffing companies are legally obliged to undertake CRB checks for candidates put forward for any temporary assignments that include working with children or vulnerable adults. Note: In contrast, within some markets, such as the Netherlands, criminal record (and health checks) are forbidden by law. Term mainly used in Western Europe. 

Source: Staffing Industry Analysts