Checks for children’s club drivers

The Independent reports that parents who regularly take groups of children to and from sports or social clubs are to undergo criminal record checks. The proposals have attracted widespread criticism in the press. Apparently over eleven million people will need to register with the Independent Safeguarding Board.

The proposals stem from the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This Act provides the legislative framework for a vetting and barring scheme for people who work with children and vulnerable adults. The purpose of the new scheme was to minimise the risk of harm posed to children and vulnerable adults by those that might seek to harm them through their work (paid or unpaid). It seeks to do this by barring unsuitable individuals not just on the basis of referrals but also at the earliest possible opportunity as part of a centralised vetting process that all those working closely with children and/or vulnerable adults will need to go through.

See Yorkshire Post 11 September 2009 Row over criminal vetting of volunteer parents