Rashid Zaman, convicted in 2001, worked with kids after his 2017 release despite a legal bar. Charity fired him after discovery.
After being released in 2017, Zaman volunteered. In 2021, he worked for St Giles Trust, visiting schools and homes. The charity says Zaman didn’t tell them about a bar and was fired when they learned the truth.
The BBC saw Zaman’s DBS certificates. The 2021 certificate showed no bar, but the March 2023 certificate showed he was barred. St Giles learned this in December 2024.
St Giles said Zaman failed to disclose his bar status, stating “this should never have happened.” It is illegal for barred people to do regulated activity, and West Yorkshire Police began a criminal investigation.
St Giles Trust said DBS checks go to individuals. Zaman didn’t disclose his new status, but a partner found out and informed St Giles, leading to an internal probe.
St Giles rechecked all Yorkshire staff working with children and found no further issues. They improved internal processes and deeply regretted the oversight.
St Giles helps ex-offenders rebuild lives. Zaman had an initial DBS check that showed he was not barred. They did a second check as part of their policy, which exceeds legal requirements.
The second check showed he was barred, and he was dismissed quickly. His circumstances had not changed. He didn’t reoffend or breach his licence, suggesting there may have been an error in the first check.
St Giles’ internal processes revealed the issue. They reviewed DBS checks for all employees, covering work with children in Yorkshire. No further issues were identified.
St Giles will work with authorities, like the DBS, to ensure safe and effective service delivery. West Yorkshire Police confirmed their investigation, and legal proceedings are now active. Public safety remains their priority.