The government has begun its review of the controversial vetting and barring scheme, and also confirmed it is to review the criminal records regime at the same time.
In a statement to parliament today, Home Secretary Theresa May released the terms of reference for the vetting and barring review, which she said had been agreed with her counterparts in Health and Education.
“The Review will be thorough and consider afresh the principles and objectives of the scheme and recommend what, if any, scheme is now needed,” she said. “It will be developed by officials working jointly across our three departments and recommendations are expected early in the new year.”
The review will focus on four key areas:
• considering the fundamental principles and objectives behind the vetting and barring regime
• considering the scope of the scheme’s coverage
• the most appropriate function, role and structures of any safeguarding bodies and appropriate governance arrangements
• recommending what, if any, scheme is needed now; taking into account how to raise awareness and understanding of risk and responsibility for safeguarding in society more generally
Should you or your organisation wish to comment, you can email the review team at [email protected]
CRB scheme reviewed too
A review of the CRB scheme will occur in parallel, led by the independent government adviser for criminality information management, Sunita Mason.
This will be carried out in two phases. The first will focus on employment vetting systems that involve criminal records checks, specifically whether the disclosure of minor offences and police intelligence to prospective employers should still be part of the criminal records checking process, while the second phase will report on the wider regime
Prime Minister David Cameron sparked controversy as Opposition leader in 2008 when he stated at Tory party conference that adults hosting youngsters on exchange visits should not always have to undergo enhanced criminal records checks.
A promise to simplify CRB checks was also a key pledge in the LibDems’ election manifesto.
“The protection of children and vulnerable adults must be paramount,” Theresa May said today, “but we must also ensure that arrangements are appropriate and support a trusting, caring society where well-meaning people are encouraged rather than deterred.”
