VETTING SCHEME HALTED

According to a report on the BBC website this morning, implementation of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is to be put on hold.  The Act introduces a requirement that a wide range of individuals working with children or vulnerable adults must register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).  Registration was set to begin on 26th July, and was intended eventually to cover some 9 million people.  However, today the Government will announce that registration will be halted, pending a review of the 2006 Act, which is expected to lead to a scaling-back of the scheme.

The ISA will continue to be responsible for operating the two barring lists set up under the 2006 Act, which prohibit listed individuals from working with children and with vulnerable adults respectively.  And the provisions for standard and enhanced CRB checks (under Part V of the Police Act 1997) will continue to operate as before.