CYP Now - Analysis: Safeguarding - Exposures trigger staff vetting fears

A sex offender and a man alleged to be accessing child pornography were last week exposed to be working with young people. The revelations have renewed concerns on child protection checks currently in place, says Sue Learner.

News that a convicted sex offender is running a Gloucestershire residential adventure centre for children has once again raised questions over whether checks carried out on adults who work with children are stringent enough (CYP Now, 16-22 January).

These concerns were heightened by the recent arrest of Jamie Rennie, chief executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, who is awaiting trial over allegations of possessing indecent images of children.

Anyone working with children and young people has to have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check every time they apply for a new job. However a CRB check only "proves you have not been caught - it does not mean you are not abusing," warns Marilyn Hawes, who runs the campaign consultancy Enough Abuse.

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