Referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) from the sport and recreation sector have increased nearly four-fold in the last four years. In 2012-2013, the number of referrals was 88. In 2015-2016, they had risen to 339 - up 285 per cent. The DBS was unable to say how many of the referrals led to people working in sport and recreation being barred from working with children. A spokesman for the DBS said the protection of children and vulnerable groups was of paramount importance. The figures were released following a BBC Radio 5 live Investigates Freedom of Information request to the DBS after hundreds of victims came forward last year to allege historical abuse in football.