Mumsnet Talk

I just read www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16931352. Outrageous. Children have been abused for years and intimidated not to tell their parents or others. How does Lord Henry think that suddenly just warning your child will prevent it becoming a victim:

*Defending the proposed changes, Home Office minister Lord Henley said that "whatever the setting, we believe that parents have the primary responsibility for educating their child in how to react to an approach from an adult if it goes beyond that adult's normal role".

Lord Henley said "what we are trying to do is create a system that will provide the necessary safeguards but does not make parents feel that their children are automatically safe - parents must still have the duty of looking after their children by warning them of potential dangers".*

It is not reasonable to assume that a CRB checked person will be with the unchecked person at all times, that is not going to happen.

well it wasn't the most helpful thing to say - but CRB is not garentee of protection either - there have been quite a few recent cases of people holding CRB checks who have abused children - so I think its is worth saying something to your kids in any case

A CRB check only tells you if the person has a conviction. It cannot guarantee that the adult is not an abuser. The average paedophile abuses 100 times before they are caught.

I don't believe Lord Henry was suggesting that just warning your child will prevent it becoming a victim. Personally I think he is absolutely right that parents need to educate their children. The rest of us also need to be vigilant.

What prh47 said.

totally what prh said

empower your child

I agree that children should be told what is what rather than wrapped in cotton wool for ever.
However from the other side of the fence, as a head teacher of a school you are responsible for all children whilst in school. You have carefully checked that all your staff are properly trained and should be there (CRB check, list 99 or whatever it is called now, proper recruitment processes). So why would you let any tom, dick or harry wander around the school and be working with the pupils?
The government can decide whatever they want but I can't see any head teacher not making the most basic of checks, which is a CRB check. There is no way that somebody can be properly supervised in a school situation on an on-going basis, despite what any government official says. Plus we all know what will be said when the inevitable happens, it was the school's responsibility......