Paedophile checks even for those not working with children

Martin Beckford
London Telegraph
Tuesday, Oct 27th, 2009

Employers will come under pressure to register staff with the Government's anti-paedophile database even if they have little contact with children, the head of the scheme has said.

An estimated 11.3 million people – including parents who join school rotas to take pupils to sports events – already face having their backgrounds checked to allow them to work with children.

But Sir Roger Singleton, the chairman of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, said the scope of the database could increase significantly because companies would fear losing business if they did not have their employees vetted.

Piano tutors, private home helps, tradesmen and the self-employed may do so just to get work, as rivals sought to advertise the fact that their staff had been cleared to work with children or vulnerable adults, he said. "There may be some categories who don't have to register but who might decide there is a commercial advantage in registering," Sir Roger said.

Full article here