PROTECTING VULNERABLE GROUPS (POST-BICHARD) BILL

KEY MEASURES

• Provide for a new vetting / barring scheme to prevent those who are deemed to be unsuitable from gaining access to children or vulnerable adults through employment (both paid and unpaid) (recommendation 19 of the Bichard Inquiry) 
• Ensure that those working with children or vulnerable adults who subsequently become unsuitable are detected at the earliest possible stage and prevented from continuing in this work (also Bichard).
• Abolish the three existing barring lists (one for education, one for children and one for vulnerable adults) and create two new lists: one for children and one for vulnerable adults. 
• Change the role of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) so that it can act as an effective information conduit for the new vetting / barring scheme. 
• Enable some employees to be made subject to mandatory checks. 
• New powers and duties on the Police, Social Services, regulatory bodies and others to share information with and receive information from the new vetting/barring scheme.

TERRITORIAL EXTENT

The vetting and barring scheme will cover England and Wales. There will be articulated links with provision in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

COMMENTS

If you have any comments on the proposals you can email them to:

info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Bill responds to a key recommendation made by the Bichard Inquiry for a 'registration scheme' to prevent those who are deemed to be unsuitable from gaining access to children or vulnerable adults through their work.