9m people working with children and vulnerable adults won’t need to be safety checked due to government ‘common sense’

More than nine million people working with children and vulnerable adults will be free to do so without having to be registered or safety checked. 

The vetting and barring scheme (VBS) will be ‘hauled back’ to ‘common sense’ levels by the government.

New proposals could see the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) merged and a ‘large’ reduction on the different roles requiring such checks.

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

The new legislation will be included in the Protection of Freedoms Bill which is expected to become law by early 2012.