Radical Shake-Up Sees Vulnerable Protected

More than nine million people working or volunteering with children and vulnerable adults will no longer need to register and be monitored by the state following an overhaul of the checking regime.

The government today has unveiled plans to scale back the vetting and barring scheme (VBS) and criminal records regime to common sense levels while ensuring vulnerable groups are appropriately protected.

The proposals, which come after a comprehensive review of the existing system, include:

• The merging of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) to form a streamlined new body providing a proportionate barring and criminal records checking service
• A large reduction of the number of positions requiring checks to just those working most closely and regularly with children and vulnerable adults
• Portability of criminal records checks between jobs to cut down on needless bureaucracy
• An end to a requirement for those working or volunteering with vulnerable groups to register with the VBS and then be continuously monitored by the ISA
• Stopping employers who knowingly request criminal records checks on individuals who are not entitled to them

The government will also keep the scope of CRB checks under review to ensure that they are not disincentivising people putting themselves forward for volunteering.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

 "The Freedoms Bill will protect millions of people from state intrusion in their private lives and mark a return to common sense government. It delivers on our commitment to restore hard-won British liberties with sweeping reforms that will end the unnecessary scrutiny of law-abiding individuals.



"We inherited a messy criminal records regime that developed piecemeal and defied common sense. Our reviews concluded that the systems were not proportionate and needed to be less bureaucratic. They will now be scaled back to sensible levels whilst at the same time protecting vulnerable people."

The proposed changes will be introduced gradually to ensure a seamless transition.

The necessary legislative changes will be included in the Protection of Freedoms Bill. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Bill is expected to become law by early 2012. The new regime would be introduced as soon as possible after this.

(BMcN)