PRESS RELEASE : Publication of the findings from the review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme [February 2011]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 11 February 2011.

The government has today published the findings from the review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said:

“Protecting children and keeping them safe remains our top priority, but it’s also important that well-meaning adults are not put off working or volunteering with children.

The new system will be less bureaucratic and less intimidating. It will empower organisations to ask the right questions and make all the appropriate pre-employment checks, and encourage everyone to be vigilant.

This is a commonsense and proportionate approach which will ensure that children are properly protected without driving a wedge between them and adults.”

The Vetting and Barring Scheme remodelling review: report and recommendations is available from the Home Office.

A parallel Review of the criminal records regime led by Mrs Sunita Mason, the Government’s independent adviser on criminality information management, has also completed its first phase and the findings of that review are available online.