A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is linked to your identity rather than your name. If you change your name by deed poll, your criminal record history does not change, and the DBS's records follow you under your new name. When applying for a new DBS check after a name change, you will be required to disclose all previous names on the application form, including any name you were known by when any criminal record was accrued. This is a legal requirement and failing to disclose previous names on a DBS application is an offence.
An existing DBS certificate is issued in a specific name and remains valid as evidence of the check carried out at the time it was issued, even if your name has since changed. However, many employers and volunteer organisations require an up-to-date DBS certificate in your current name. If your DBS certificate is in your old name and you are applying for a new role, you may be asked to apply for a new check in your new name. A new basic DBS check costs £18; standard and enhanced checks are processed through a registered body.
If you subscribe to the DBS Update Service (an annual subscription allowing employers to check whether a certificate is still current), updating your name there is important. Log into your Update Service account and update your details. Your subscription and the underlying certificate remain associated with your identity even after a name change, but updating the name on the account ensures there is no confusion when an employer runs a status check.