Under new regulatory proposals, the Bar Standards Board announced prospective barristers are to undergo police checks before being called to the Bar. The decision follows a regulatory review which started last October with the board meeting last week to agree on a number of conclusions in principle. From next year students will be required to undergo a criminal records review, known as a disclosure and barring service check, though this will only be require only the “standard” or most basic and least onerous check, which should reveal information on prospective barristers regarding any spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings.The Board will now seek to reach final at its meetings in April and May respectively and discuss these principles further with the Inns as next steps are agreed.