CRB - a good servant but a poor master

I was listening earlier to the Today Programme debate on the riots. One of the speakers, an ex-gang member and present youth worker, spoke persuasively and powerfully that early intervention (ie up to the age of 10) might work but that we needed, now, people who could work with gang members and other teenagers in difficulty. These people needed credibility with the young people with whom they work, and this was often delivered by ex-gang members. But the problem is that many ex-gang members have a criminal record and local authorities won't employ them.

Now, when I was a director of children's services, I refused to allow CRB checks to be used unthinkingly to ban people from jobs. And because there was a risk in taking this course, I always made the decision, and took the risk, personally. So, for example, I did not disclose to a governing body a drug conviction of a potential headteacher - a minor conviction from many years ago. And the candidate was appointed and did very well. And I have dome the same with dishonesty - I still recall an ex-colleague who had a theft conviction from their time as a student when they had nicked a bottle of milk from a doorstep. And there was the case of the 35 year-old who had an underage sex conviction when he was 17 and the girl was 15 - and it was fully consensual. I've always made personal judgments and I am pleased to say they always worked out.