Media security checks (2024)
File Ref: F24-134
Date of Response: 13/03/2024
Request
Does a journalist need to have a DBS check to get a parliamentary pass, lobby pass, or access to the House of Commons or Downing Street?
Response
Some information is held by the House of Commons. We hold information on access requirements for journalists to access the House of Commons.
Rather than a DBS check, journalists seeking to acquire a parliamentary pass are required to undertake a Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC). This is undertaken by the Parliamentary Security Department (PSD), and more details about this process (pdf, 155KB) can be found on the PSD pages of our webpages.
We do not hold any information on background check requirements for journalists to access 10 Downing Street. This is because the House of Commons is not a part of the Government, and we therefore neither have access to information they hold, nor can we answer on their behalf. More information about this can be found on the About Parliament pages of our website.
If you wish to request information held by Government departments, you may wish to contact them directly instead; contact details for all departments can be found on the Government’s website.