NSPCC has doubts on ‘common sense’ vetting

Home Secretary Theresa May announced changes designed to bring checks back to “common sense levels” last month.

She also suggested that the NSPCC was satisfied with the safeguards despite previously warning they could mean teachers barred but not prosecuted for inappropriate behaviour could become unpaid volunteers in schools.

However, the charity has made clear that it has not been reassured.

An NSPCC official said: “This is not the case. We have serious concerns about some of these changes and are urging Ministers to think again.

“If these changes go ahead, a barred person could still end up working with children and there would be no requirements for the authorities to alert anyone.

“A person might be barred from regulated activity, such as teaching, but would then be able to move into non-regulated activity with children without sanction and without employers necessarily being alerted to the risk they pose.

“For example, somebody barred from teaching because of inappropriate relationships with young people could become a voluntary teaching assistant.”

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, called on Mrs May to apologise.

“Now we know the Home Secretary has misled people both about the NSPCC’s concerns, and about the extent of the protection that will be in place,” she said.

“Theresa May must urgently apologise, tell us the truth about the new arrangements, and make urgent changes to close the loopholes in her plans. If someone who has been barred tries to work with children again, schools should be told. Parents will demand nothing less.”

Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone said common sense changes made the scheme more proportionate and it contained appropriate safeguards over those working with children and vulnerable adults.