Protection of Freedoms Bill
Impact of the Bill
The Bill is supported by lengthy explanatory notes, however reading them requires copies of a number of other Acts to hand as they cross refer. We are therefore producing summaries of the key topics including:
- summary of the review recommendations incorporated into Bill
- eligibility for each level of disclosure,
- the revised scope of regulated activity
- changes to the definition of vulnerable adults
- management of registered bodies and regulators
- how the numbers eligible for the vetting and disclsoure service will be reduced from 9 million to 4.5million
These are sent out to individuals registered with us as they are produced.
Your chance to contribute
The Protection of Freedoms Bill is likely to be voted through its first and second readings by mid March 2011 and will then move to the committee stage. It is the first Bill that is being made available online for the public to comment on the different clauses, which is called the “Public Reading Stage”. This is an important opportunity to raise points on topics such as the availability of disclosures, scope of regulated activity and the level of guidance available. The website can be found here – http://publicreadingstage.cabinetoffice.gov.uk . Do add your perspectives and practical examples from your experience as this is a very complex area which has been subject to misrepresentation in the media. Your comments are likely to contribute to the points made by MPs across all parties during the debates and committee stages.
Response to the criminal records regime changes
There was mixed response to the changes, as the following posts and articles illustrate,
Other issues are adding to the complexity of the situation, such as the recent challenge to long term inclusion on the sex offenders register under human rights law, the Royal College of Nursing judicial review of the ISA barring process, and the cuts to regulatory bodies such as the General Teaching Council, Ofsted and CWDC. Register with us to keep up to date with developments!