Vetting and barring legislation needs stronger checks, warn MPs
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The government must act to prevent changes to vetting and barring procedures that could allow unsuitable people to work with children, a group of MPs has warned.
A report by the Child Protection All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), Vetting and Disclosures: Getting it Right in Practice, notes that the Protection of Freedoms Bill reduces the scope of "regulated activity relating to children".
It states that this could leave many people who have not gone through the vetting and barring system continuing to work and volunteer with young children.
Under legislation currently going through parliament, volunteers would only be checked if they have unsupervised contact with children.
But child protection experts have previously raised concerns on this issue, stating that supervised volunteers can still have contact, arrange to see children and form relationships with them.
In addition to recommendations around regulated activity, the report calls for greater support and guidance from government for the organisations the changes would affect, creating "greater clarity and understanding for all those involved".
Last month, CYP Now revealed that the Independent Safeguarding Authority is concerned that confusion over changes to the system has led to incidents and suspicions of abuse going unrecorded.
Meg Munn MP, chair of the APPG, said: "Parents need to be reassured that the vetting scheme will protect their children from known paedophiles and the government should improve the legislation to tighten up the loopholes we have identified.
"It is very important that the regulated activity category covers all those positions where individuals have regular close contact with children and can easily develop trusting relationships with them. A lack of clarity in the legislation will make it easier for unscrupulous people to target children."
The report suggests an advice service and support system for employers making decisions on the basis of information they receive in a Criminal Records Bureau check, as well as communications with the public to develop support for the proportionate use of checking.
The NSPCC said: "Proper use of the criminal records checking and barring schemes is an essential part of keeping children safe. We strongly welcome the APPG’s focus on how the schemes will work in practice.
"The NSPCC agrees that there must be effective communication about the scheme to the public, employers and volunteering organisations.
"It is also important that organisations are given wider support to keep children safe from harm: vetting and barring regulations are vital but, as the report acknowledges, they are only one element of effective safeguarding practice.
"We encourage the government to respond to the APPG’s recommendations as soon as possible."
