Steve Beynon, corporate director, children, education and families atThurrock Council, said councils had a number of concerns. Issues includedelays to the introduction of police computer systems designed toprotect children. "The proposed amalgamation of forces could slowprogress because individual forces are unlikely to invest in newprogrammes and equipment if they know they're soon going to be merged,"he told Children Now.
The cost of implementing measures in the Safeguarding Vulnerable GroupsBill is another concern. "There are some interesting implications interms of costs for the regulatory checks," said Beynon.
Last week, the Home Office issued its third progress report on theimplementation of Sir Michael Bichard's recommendations. The report saidgood progress had been made on 21 of the 31 recommendations. Homesecretary John Reid said: "We remain fully committed to implementing thewhole programme."
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