An NSPCC report for the children's commissioner for England asked 71teenagers about their views on the national children's index. Theteenagers said they had strong concerns about the security of theinformation on the database.
One 14-year-old said she worried that if a children's professional wasan abuser, they could alter records to cover up their abuse. Another14-year-old girl was concerned that workers may exaggerate problems andenter them on the database.
Confidentiality was also a concern. One 16-year-old said: "Theyshouldn't tell anyone without our permission, unless it's somethinglife-threatening."
Some of the young people interviewed suggested the index might putchildren off using children's services.
Al Aynsley-Green, the children's commissioner for England, said: "Ourresearch shows more needs to be done to ensure children and young peopleunderstand how the index will work and to be assured that their right toprivacy will be respected."
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