- The need for checks to be drastically reduced to ‘common sense’ levels -now it will only apply to those who have the most close and regular contact with children or vulnerable adults, such as professional childcare workers or teachers. The total number who will need to undergo background checks will halve to around 4.5million, although who this includes does not appear to have been defined judging from the interview given by Nick Clegg his morning on BBC.
- Continual updating and portability will be enabled so that teachers and care home workers who do require checks will have their records constantly updated. This is seen as a key benefit and was already planned in by CRB.
- The content of CRBs will be reviewed – for instance the changes will also drastically cut the use of ‘soft intelligence’ when examining a person’s history. Unproven allegations will only be placed on a person’s record if a Chief Constable believes they are true.
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Checks that are unnecessary and which breach an employee’s privacy could be referred to the data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner, and any employer found knowingly to have requested an unlawful check could face fines running to thousands of pounds. This will prevent the over zealous use of CRBs such as the school in Warrington that would not be allowed into the premises to see their children.
- the Independent Safeguarding Authority will be merged with the Criminal Records Bureau. Continue reading Reduced CRB regime announced
Category Archives: In the News
Reaction to VBS & CRB changes
On BBC News, Mark Williams-Thomas a ex-policeman and specialist in child safeguarding gave the following interview:
Click to play
See also our page tracking stakeholder comments
500 referrals to Pilkington unit each month
About 500 people a month are being referred to Leicestershire police’s newly formed specialist adult referral unit. It was created to ensure vulnerable adults do not slip through the net following criticism after the death of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter in October 2007. Ms Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francecca after years of torment from yobs. Continue reading 500 referrals to Pilkington unit each month
CRB & ISA to merge into new body
An article in the Telegraph pre-empts the announcement about the results of the criminal records regime review by Sunita Mason and the parallel one into the Vetting & Barring Scheme. Headline: “An anti-paedophile vetting scheme that would have involved nine million adults will be ripped up next week in a major reworking of how background checks are conducted.” Continue reading CRB & ISA to merge into new body
Unjustified CRB checks challenged
Councils in Kent and East Sussex have been accused of carrying out unjustified Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks for job applicants. Who the Councils are checking: Continue reading Unjustified CRB checks challenged
Lords debate exploitation of children
The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, raised five areas of concern about children being groomed for sexual exploitation. His question in the House of Lords was what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of children, especially of children in the care of local authorities, from being groomed for sexual exploitation. Continue reading Lords debate exploitation of children
Munro report criticises Ofsted approach
The interim report on child protection by Eileen Munro has been published today. It signals a new approach which will focus on helping children rather than on regulations, inspections and procedures. The areas for reform in the interim report include:
- the importance of a management and inspection process that monitors whether children are getting the help they need rather than being a tick-box exercise Continue reading Munro report criticises Ofsted approach
RCN challenges ISA
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is supporting three nurses to launch a major test case against the Government in the European Court, following a High Court ruling last year. The nurses were automatically barred from working by the ISA following cautions. If successful, the action could mean that the government was liable for significant compensation payouts. Continue reading RCN challenges ISA
Scottish crime statistics
09-10 Scottish crime statistics have been released. It reveals that there were 380,000 serious crimes recorded in Scotland in 2009-10, including murder, rape and serious assault – a fifth lower than in 2000-1. Continue reading Scottish crime statistics
Scottish PVG Scheme launch date confirmed
Health & Social Care Bill brings fundamental change
Barnado’s & CEOP tackle gang exploitation
Barnardo’s says it is working with more than 1,000 children who have been sexually exploited by organised gangs of men in cities across the UK. It says a specific minister must be given formal responsibility for tackling the issue. Continue reading Barnado’s & CEOP tackle gang exploitation
Impact of the CQC cuts
The Care Quality Commission, or CQC – are being massively cut back. Five years ago, there were 50,000 visits in a single year. This year, there will be a quarter of that. source : Article by Johann Hari in The Independent Continue reading Impact of the CQC cuts
Police databases of millions of 999 callers
Millions of innocent people who have just reported a crime have their details stored on police databases, Continue reading Police databases of millions of 999 callers
Sunita Mason’s 2009 report
Sunita Mason was appointed the Independent Advisor for Criminality Information Management in September 2009 to consider issues arising as a result of the ‘five constables’ case and increasing public debate on the use of personal information.
Her report A Balanced Approach looked at how government agencies share information to protect the public as well as the retention and use of criminal record information held by the police on the Police National Computer (PNC).
Drawing the Line – Sir Roger Singleton’s Review
Folowing the media attention on the ‘author’s story’, Sir Roger Singleton was invited to review aspects of the definition of Regulated Activity and its impact on the scope of the Vetting & Barring Scheme. His recommendations in Drawing the Line Dec 09 reduced the number of people who would need to be members of the scheme to 9 million
The Author’s Story – and Bichard’s reply
Media interest was sparked in July 2009 when Phillip Pullman, the best selling author, claimed he would be banned from reading his books in schools because he refused to be vetted for the VBS. Continue reading The Author’s Story – and Bichard’s reply