Watching your application status stop moving can feel frustrating, but seeing your DBS check stuck at Stage 4 doesn’t mean something has gone wrong with your application.
DBS Stage 4 involves local police force checks, making it the most detailed — and time-consuming — part of the process, and the most common source of delays.
Read on to learn more about the DBS Stage 4 average timescale and why it can take so long.
In summary
| What is Stage 4? | Stage 4 is one of the final steps in an Enhanced DBS check, when the application is sent to local police forces to search their databases for relevant non-conviction information or records. |
| How long does Stage 4 take? | The time it takes for an Enhanced DBS check to pass through Stage 4 varies based on a number of factors. Enhanced DBS checks take around 12 days on average to be completed. |
| Why is my DBS stuck at Stage 4? | Factors like how much work the local police force has on, how many addresses need to be checked, and whether the application has been submitted during a peak hiring season can cause the DBS check to be stuck at Stage 4. |
| When can I escalate a Stage 4 delay? | You or your employer can escalate your application if it’s been stuck at Stage 4 for more than 60 days. |
What is Stage 4 of a DBS check?
When you submit a DBS check application, it moves through up to five distinct processing stages depending on the check level. The stages are:
- Application received and validated
- Police National Computer (PNC) searched
- Children and Adults’ Barred Lists search
- Search of local police records
- A DBS certificate is printed
Basic and Standard checks will move through Stages 1, 2, and 5, while Enhanced DBS checks will also pass through Stage 4, and also Stage 3 if the role the applicant is applying for involves regulated activity and requires a Barred List check.
You can read our guide on the differences between Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks to see how check levels vary.
During Stage 4 of Enhanced DBS checks, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) electronically sends the application to local police forces associated with the applicant’s current or previous addresses. Then, police officers check their local systems to see if they hold non-conviction details or local intelligence about the applicant that they believe should be disclosed on the certificate.
How long does Stage 4 of a DBS check take?
There isn’t one set timeline for how long Stage 4 of an Enhanced DBS check takes. It can range from 7 to 14 days, but local police forces have up to 60 days to process their searches before the applicant can escalate the application.
As of August 2026, the national average turnaround time for an Enhanced DBS check is 13.5 days, and Stage 4 takes up most of that processing time.
You can read our full breakdown on how long a DBS check takes to see average turnaround times across every Stage.
Why is my DBS check stuck at Stage 4?
If your DBS check has been stuck at Stage 4 and you’re wondering why it’s taking so long, there are a few common reasons why it may be delayed.
[Image placeholder: a graphic that maps out the different reasons why a DBS check could be stuck at stage 4. Include icons to illustrate each reason, along with a brief description of each reason.]
Stage 4 isn’t an automated database search. Instead, local police staff must manually review local systems, cross-reference personal details, and verify non-conviction information.
Here’s a detailed look at why your Stage 4 check could be taking longer than the average processing times:
There are workload backlogs with the local police force
Turnaround times vary significantly depending on which regional police force handles your check. Busy areas, like major cities, may have longer processing times as they might receive more applications than smaller regions.
Police forces also face seasonal spikes in application volumes, especially ahead of new school terms, alongside staffing vacancies. When a local force experiences a high volume of requests, backlogs quickly build up.
You have multiple past addresses
If you’ve lived in different areas over the last five years, the DBS sends your check to every police force responsible for those jurisdictions.
While forces often process these searches at once, your check can’t clear Stage 4 until the very last force completes its review. Moving often or living in areas covered by busier police forces can mean your DBS check takes longer.
Your personal details have changed
If you’ve had another legal name, whether you’ve chosen to change your first name or your surname has changed after marriage, then this can potentially cause delays. Police will need to check details against all given names, which can add to the time it takes to complete the check.
There are potential identity matches
If you share a common name with another person, police staff must manually verify files to rule out false matches with other individuals on local databases.
Staff check dates of birth and previous addresses to make sure they don’t confuse your record with someone else’s. This means more manual work, which extends the application time.
There are discrepancies or mistakes in the application
If your application leaves out previous names or contains address date gaps, the police force may pause processing. They’ll send a query back to the DBS to request extra details, which delays completion until you or your employer clarifies the information.
There’s complex information to consider
Chief police officers must decide if local intelligence, like unproven allegations, callouts, or police notes, is relevant to the role you applied for.
This discretionary process requires careful legal evaluation of potentially sensitive or complex information, especially for roles involving vulnerable groups. You can read our guide on DBS workforce type options to see how workforce types affect check criteria, and how they can affect DBS check processing times.
What to do if your DBS check is stuck at Stage 4
1. Track your exact Stage 4 start date
You can use the official DBS tracking service to find out which stage your application is in. Make sure that you have your DBS application reference number (the ten-digit number starting with ‘E’) on hand. Make a note of the exact date that your application entered Stage 4. Learn more about DBS tracking here.
2. Verify your initial details
Make sure all the personal information you submitted, like your five-year address history and previous names, matches your official identity documents. If a local police force finds discrepancies or date gaps, they pause processing to query the details, which delays your check.
3. Wait for the 60-day threshold
Local police forces have a 60-day target to process local record searches. Applicants or umbrella bodies, like uCheck, can’t raise a formal escalation query before the application has been in Stage 4 for 60 calendar days. This means 60 days must have passed since police forces received your application, not from when you first submitted your DBS check form.
4. Escalate the check or request hardship priority
Once your check reaches 60 days in Stage 4, uCheck can escalate the application with the DBS to trigger a formal police chase.
If your application has been in Stage 4 for over 28 days and the delay puts your employment at risk or causes severe financial hardship, you can contact the DBS directly at customerservices@dbs.gov.uk to request a hardship escalation. You must provide evidence of your current situation, such as a letter from your employer stating that they must receive your DBS certificate by a certain date.
What happens after Stage 4 is completed?
When local police forces complete Stage 4, your application moves straight to Stage 5, which is the final step of the process. Stage 5 involves printing the physical paper certificate and posting it directly to your current home address.
Once Stage 4 is finished, you’ll usually receive your physical certificate in the post within 3 to 5 working days. Employers see the status update on their online dashboard as soon as Stage 4 clears, but they can’t complete their onboarding process until they view the official certificate. Find out more about what DBS check results show here.
Frequently asked questions about Stage 4 delays
Does Stage 4 mean I have a criminal record?
No, if your application is stuck at Stage 4, it doesn’t mean you have a criminal record or that the police found anything against your name.
Every single Enhanced DBS check passes through Stage 4, regardless of whether an applicant has a clear history. Local police staff must review every application manually to confirm whether it contains relevant information or to verify that local systems show no records.
Can uCheck speed up Stage 4 with the police force?
No umbrella body or employer can speed up Stage 4 checks before an application reaches 60 calendar days in Stage 4.
Police forces process searches under certain guidelines, and they won’t accept formal progress queries before that 60-day mark unless an applicant submits an approved financial hardship escalation.
What happens if I’ve lived at multiple addresses?
If you’ve lived in different areas over the last five years, the DBS routes your application to every local police force responsible for those regions. While separate police forces often process their searches at once, your application stays at Stage 4 until the final police force completes its review. If even one force in your address history experiences a heavy backlog, it delays the overall Stage 4 completion date.
Get fast DBS checks with uCheck
Dealing with DBS check delays and tracking candidate applications doesn’t need to slow down your hiring process. Whether you’re onboarding new staff or managing routine vetting, uCheck takes the hassle out of pre-employment screening.
- Over 80,000 people trust us to manage their background checks
- We process over 850,000 checks every year (1/5th of all DBS applications!)
- Our rapid HR platform lets you request, view, and track all applicant checks in one central place
- We’re ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials certified
- Our expert support team is always on hand to help answer any questions
Discover our online DBS checks for employers or contact our team today to speed up your background screening.
