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Vetting and barring (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20)
NUT concerns
The government says people will find the process of registration straightforward. Unfortunately teachers, who have needed enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosures for many years, have not always found this to be so. We know of mistakes with identity, long delays and, most commonly, misleading information kept on file.
The process involves checking police records for convictions and ’soft’ information, which is any information, allegation or concern that has come to police attention and been recorded. It does not have to be known to be true, and may have been given maliciously.
Some NUT members have discovered that police have records they were entirely unaware of – for example, a neighbour complained about them, or someone made a salacious allegation. Once these allegations are recorded, then disclosed by the police, they gain a veneer of legitimacy as people assume there’s ‘no smoke without fire!’ The union is pleased to see that Sir Roger has recognised this.
We have been working with Liberty and others to argue that it is unfair to hand this information to employers when it may be misleading or false. We say if the ISA has checked the information and cleared the applicant for registration, there is no justification for disclosing it to employers each time the person seeks a new post.
It is not only a teacher’s own record that is examined.
Other family members may also be checked, and if there are recorded allegations the teacher may find their own registration affected.
You would expect that such a system would have strong safeguards. This is not so. The ISA is unwilling to allow all those considered for barring to attend a personal hearing of their case, wanting most cases considered as a paper exercise. There will be a very limited right of appeal.
Taking action
Along with a coalition of TUC unions, the NUT has drawn up a list of demands for the new scheme. You can find it at
www.teachers.org.uk/vettingandbarring. Please help by writing or talking to your MP about your concerns over the scheme, and asking what he or she thinks about the plans.
Make the scheme more fair
The NUT believes the new system is unfair to teachers and other workers, and to those who want to
volunteer in schools, nurseries and youth projects.
We believe:
• the government should have provided for the ISA to consider soft information and prevent disclosure of any that is irrelevant, inaccurate and/or misleading
• there should be a fair process and a right to appeal
• the cost of the scheme should not be borne by the applicants themselves.
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