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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Reappraisal of paedophile checks | Reappraisal of paedophile checks |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The government is to look again at how a new vetting system for those working with children will operate. | The government is to look again at how a new vetting system for those working with children will operate. |
| England's Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, said it was "tremendously important" to define "frequent or intensive" contact correctly. | England's Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, said it was "tremendously important" to define "frequent or intensive" contact correctly. |
| He has asked the chair of the new Independent Safeguarding Authority to review this and report by December. | He has asked the chair of the new Independent Safeguarding Authority to review this and report by December. |
| Critics including the NSPCC have said the scheme could stop normal behaviour such as giving lifts to sports clubs. | Critics including the NSPCC have said the scheme could stop normal behaviour such as giving lifts to sports clubs. |
| Mr Balls stressed that it would not apply where, for example, parents agreed to give friends' children "a lift to school or to Cubs". | Mr Balls stressed that it would not apply where, for example, parents agreed to give friends' children "a lift to school or to Cubs". |
| "Nor will it cover instances where parents work with children at school or a youth club on 'an occasional or one-off basis'." | "Nor will it cover instances where parents work with children at school or a youth club on 'an occasional or one-off basis'." |
| He announced the reappraisal in a letter to the chair of the Commons children, schools and families committee, Barry Sheerman. | He announced the reappraisal in a letter to the chair of the Commons children, schools and families committee, Barry Sheerman. |
| Mr Balls said the scheme had been introduced via legislation in parliament, following the Bichard inquiry into the murders of two schoolgirls. | Mr Balls said the scheme had been introduced via legislation in parliament, following the Bichard inquiry into the murders of two schoolgirls. |
| It requires those working with children or with vulnerable adults, either on a paid or voluntary basis, to be on a register of suitability which employers can check. | It requires those working with children or with vulnerable adults, either on a paid or voluntary basis, to be on a register of suitability which employers can check. |
| The system will be phased in from next month and will operate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from next year. A different scheme is being introduced in Scotland. | |
| 'Misleading' | 'Misleading' |
| Mr Balls said there had generally been very strong support for the scheme during extensive consultation. | Mr Balls said there had generally been very strong support for the scheme during extensive consultation. |
| "Recently, however, some concerns have been expressed about the precise interpretation of a particular aspect of the scheme; that is, the degree of contact with children which should trigger the requirement to register," he added. | "Recently, however, some concerns have been expressed about the precise interpretation of a particular aspect of the scheme; that is, the degree of contact with children which should trigger the requirement to register," he added. |
| There had been "some inaccurate and misleading reports". | There had been "some inaccurate and misleading reports". |
| But striking the right balance had been a difficult judgement, in particular how precisely the "frequent or intensive" principle should be applied to real life situations. | But striking the right balance had been a difficult judgement, in particular how precisely the "frequent or intensive" principle should be applied to real life situations. |
| So ministers had asked Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) chief Sir Roger Singleton "to check the government has drawn the line in the right place on this issue". | So ministers had asked Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) chief Sir Roger Singleton "to check the government has drawn the line in the right place on this issue". |
| He should report by the beginning of December on whether any adjustments needed to be made. | He should report by the beginning of December on whether any adjustments needed to be made. |
| Earlier Sir Roger had said people needed to "calm down" and consider the whole matter "rationally". | |
| He said: "It is not about subjecting a quarter of the population to intensive scrutiny of their personal lives and it is not about creating mistrust between adults and children or discouraging volunteering." | |
| He added: "It is about ensuring that those people who have already been dismissed by their employers for inappropriate behaviour with children do not simply up sticks and move elsewhere in the country to continue their abuse." | |
| Agencies | |
| Children's authors including Philip Pullman and Michael Morpurgo had also complained the requirement was "insulting" and said they would stop visiting schools. | |
| But this is not the only apparent concern being raised. | |
| Anne Fairweather, head of public policy at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation said the vetting and barring scheme, once fully operational, would bring significant benefits. | |
| "However, we have serious concerns about the way the scheme is being introduced. | |
| We are less than a month away and it is still not clear what information recruitment agencies should refer to the Independent Safeguarding Authority and when this should take place." |