Checks by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) have meant that, over the past four years, 80,000 people have been stopped from working with vulnerable groups. A spokesman for the Home Office said it does not break down the figures to show how many people have been stopped from working with children or young people.

The 2007 Customer Satisfaction and Impact Survey carried out by Mori for CRB showed 92 per cent of people were happy with the service they received from the organisation.

Home Office minister Meg Hillier said: “The Government takes the protection of children and vulnerable adults extremely seriously and the CRB plays a vital role in helping us fulfil this duty.”

The results are published alongside the agency’s Business Plan for 2008/09, which says it wants to develop and expand its existing services through the development of new electronic application services.