Vetting and Barring scheme scrapped and CRB checks reduced

Up to nine million fewer volunteers and workers will no longer need to register.

Measures in the Freedoms Bill being unveiled today include:

The Government said that the new ‘streamlined body’ to replace the Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority will provide ‘a proportionate barring and criminal records checking service’.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the changes marked ‘a return to commonsense government’ and end ‘the unnecessary scrutiny of law-abiding individuals’.

He added, ‘We inherited a messy criminal records regime that developed piecemeal and defied common sense. Our reviews concluded that the systems were not proportionate and needed to be less bureaucratic. They will now be scaled back to sensible levels while at the same time protecting vulnerable people.’

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.’