Mistake over vetting delays Bournemouth Scout camp (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Mistake over vetting delays Bournemouth Scout camp
6:06pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in
A BOURNEMOUTH councillor has blasted bureaucrats after discovering that his son’s Scout camp has been cancelled because accompanying adults have not all been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.
David Smith was stunned to be informed that 38th Bournemouth Scout Group leaders had abandoned plans for the weekend trip in September.
An email to Cllr Smith from Bournemouth Scouts read: “Unfortunately we are in a situation where we have had to take the decision to cancel this popular event.
“We apologise for any disappointment and inconvenience this decision has caused.”
Cllr Smith, who has previously accompanied both his son Adam and stepson Anwar on family camps, said: “It’s totally over the top and very disappointing for everyone concerned.
“The camps have always provided a great opportunity for dads and their sons to bond; it was great fun and to my knowledge there has never been an incident which has caused any concern.
“I’m already CRB checked because I’m a local councillor and school governor but who was going to pay the bill for other parents, carers and siblings to be vetted? It’s totally against the ethos of Scouting and yet another case of bureaucracy gone mad.”
But Chris Foster from the Scout Association stressed that a fact sheet published in May 2005 stated that all adults attending family camps must have been CRB checked. The procedure can take at least three months.
He added: “I understand that the young people who are unable to attend their family camp will have the opportunity to do so at a later date.
“Meanwhile hundreds of Scouts from across Dorset are preparing for their own summer camps at a variety of different locations across the UK and overseas.”
County commissioner Mike Parkes told the Daily Echo: “This is not something new; there has been an administrative error on the part of the organisers of this camp which has been postponed, not cancelled.
“It is unfortunate but the safety of our young people is our paramount concern.”
Comments(9)
Deke60
says...
6:41pm Wed 8 Jul 09
pipistrollers
says...
8:04pm Wed 8 Jul 09
So it matters is one group of people are police cleared to work with children but not others to suit Mr Smith!!
Does he not know how many children are abused by people in these horrible days?
Does he not care that his kids would be in the care of people who may or may not be as the case may be unsafe to be around children?
For Mr Smith's information, all that needs to be done is for those who need to be cleared to contact the police. They will tell them how to get themselves checked.
I had to have a police check done on me because I was, at one time, going to emmigrate to America. All I did was walk into the police station (not in Dorset) and tell them what I needed and what it was for. I paid £5 and received my police check in 5 days.
Here in Dorset it is a bit different. A request form can de downloaded from the internet and it now costs £10.
Please don't come back asking why anyone should have to pay themselves - if someone is dedicated to what they are doing, it is a small price to pay!
What is Cllr Smith's problem?
essexman2
says...
8:32pm Wed 8 Jul 09
What a top heavy system and how many has it saved? Wasn't that Plymouth preschool assistant CRBd?!!!
david barbara
says...
10:35pm Wed 8 Jul 09
No check is perfect for first time abusers, but without the check it will happen again and again and again.
West Howe Sean
says...
10:58pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Does he not realise that a Scout Camp is a dream come true to pedophiles. The CRB check will only uncover convicted pedophiles but it's a start.
Cllr Smith you should think very carefully before speaking.
essexman2
says...
6:11pm Thu 9 Jul 09
"Essex man
No check is perfect for first time abusers, but without the check it will happen again and again and again."
I think you missed my point.
I am not arguing about the checks as such, but rather more about the duplicationa. IMHO if somebody produces, say, a check reference, then a simple online enquiry and reply should be generated to prove validity. No, that's too simple for authority, and no one uses nous. They're all back covering.
I wonder and wonder how effective any scheme can be, as the big baddies will find a way round the system.
gudmenrmist
says...
11:33pm Thu 9 Jul 09
yankee
says...
12:54am Fri 10 Jul 09
To circumvent this, there was proposed a plan to introduce a form of identity card for those with access to children - such as teachers, social workers, and volunteers, so that their status regarding child safety could be readily accessed by schools and the like - a sort of pre-screening. As an example, I would have found it easier to be able to vet all applicants for a post who were in the 'system'. There was even talk about a swipe card that would contain this information. Any 'problem' would appear immediately. Those without cards would have to go through the vetting procedure, after which they would be included in the system.
That this procedure was not introduced has led to the growth of a quango which generates huge income by vetting individuals for every position - when in fact one 'super' vetting, kept up-to-date, would suffice.
Why should a fully vetted scout leader have to be re-vetted to be a Sunday School teacher?
I wonder whether anybody disqualified from working with children could have that information flagged on an official document of identity, such as a passport or driver's licence, that would alert an employer or supervisor that further checks were required. The Police National Computer and Swansea could no doubt do this.
For everybody's information, when you are CRB vetted for positions involving unsupervised access to children and vulnerable people, all convictions and cautions will be disclosed to an employer, regardless of their relevance to the post.
This is something that needs to be discussed (although if I found a member of staff with numerous traffic violations, I might find this useful regarding the transport of pupils).
A wonderful lady teacher, in her 40s, burst into tears about a caution she had received 30 years before, for failing to pay her underground fare!
Fifteen years on, the system needs to be streamlined.
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dribble says...
6:37pm Wed 8 Jul 09
In my view the Scout Association is correct in insisting that these checks are undertaken.
What Cllr Smith should be concentrating on is making sure that the processes are enhanced so it doesn't take up to 3 months for a check to come back