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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Keeping children safe from community payback people....

46 replies

Pantone363 · 05/05/2013 19:44

Just received a letter from the school.

Some work will be carried out nearby to the school (cleaning/maintainance) and may be done by the community payback people. If it is done by the payback people then...

"for the safety of the children (from the payback people) any work will be carried out during the holidays"

AIBU to be a bit Shock and a bit Hmm at the implication that they are all child snatching, peado criminals just waiting for a chance to steal our kids?

OP posts:
HollyBerryBush · 05/05/2013 19:46

Of course they are. Of course convicted paedos are going to be placed in schools. It's done all over the country, they even carry little nets to catch your sprogs and cart them away Hmm

Most likely benefit fraudsters

ReluctantlyBeingYoniMassaged · 05/05/2013 19:46

Did it actually say the part in brackets on the letter?

hiddenhome · 05/05/2013 19:47

I would imagine that they consist of a variety of different types of people and the odd deranged maniac may be part of such a group Confused

Original poster
Pantone363 · 05/05/2013 19:48

Yes the quotes and brackets are copied from the letter!

OP posts:
nohalfmeasures · 05/05/2013 19:48

I guess its so they don't have to CRB check each one.

Original poster
Pantone363 · 05/05/2013 19:49

The work isn't inside the school premises, it's nearby.

OP posts:
wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/05/2013 19:50

Payback people (odd term that I have never heard before) wont be able to pass a CRB check. That could be for a million reasons which dont always mean they are a danger to children.

But, no CRB means they cannot be around children or vulnerable adults.

jacks365 · 05/05/2013 19:52

Problem is if they were doing the work while the children were there they would all need crb checks. Its standard procedure for community payback work to be done while schools are closed due to safeguarding children regulations and has nothing to do with the people doing the work being unsafe round children but some people will read it that way unfortunately

Original poster
Pantone363 · 05/05/2013 19:53

But the work isn't on school premises? It's outside on a public area used to access the school!

OP posts:
Flobbadobs · 05/05/2013 19:55

People doing community payback wear hi vis jackets with it printed on the back, sounds like the school are anticipating hysterical parents and sending a pre emptive letter to cover themselves.

jacks365 · 05/05/2013 19:55

Even though not on school grounds its a blanket policy for any community payback work done nearby. We had this issue with our playgroup a bit back.

usualsuspect · 05/05/2013 19:55

They will be doing pay back whatever that means for all sorts of reasons not just benefit fraud.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/05/2013 19:56

There are factories in the next town to me that are on the same road as a school. Even employees on the night shift need enhanced CRBs.

Paedophiles can target areas schools are in. The whole group probably arent paedophiles, but one or two could be.

EduCated · 05/05/2013 20:00

But you don't pass/fail a CRB, do you? I thought it just stated your record and it was up to the potential employer to decide whether you are an appropriate person to work in that role?

usualsuspect · 05/05/2013 20:00

I don't think they will be paedophiles

wannabedomesticgoddess · 05/05/2013 20:03

Yes, thats correct.

But you do "fail" a CRB if the crime is a violent one or had anything to do with harming children.

Just as you would "fail" a CRB if you were applying to be in a financial role and had a conviction for theft or fraud.

IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou · 05/05/2013 20:03

If they are a danger surely it would be better for them to do the work when the children are contained in the school rather than when they are lose on the streets during the holidays

AmberLeaf · 05/05/2013 20:03

They won't be paedophiles!

I saw some clearing some overgrown shrubbery by a road a few days ago.

Load of spotty teens.

I know someone whos daughter had to do this for doing some graffiti.

It won't be criminal masterminds doing it.

Sirzy · 05/05/2013 20:04

I would imagine it is more do with the fact that as a group together their behaviour could be unpredictable/volatile so they wouldn't want to purposely expose the children to that risk.

That and the fact that some parents will see them and panic!

nohalfmeasures · 05/05/2013 20:08

It's not really a question of failing a CRB check. It just highlights convictions, and then the child protection person has to assess if those convictions should prevent a person working in that particular role.

EduCated · 05/05/2013 20:11

Exactly, so I don't understand your comment about they won't be able to 'pass' a CRB and therefore won't be able to be around children Confused

I'd not be too concerned about people who are being supervised and who are a 'known quantity', as it were. At least you know who they are and what they've done.

maddening · 05/05/2013 20:14

in my mum's village the payback folk do work in the churchyard right across from the school - that happens during school times all year so it is a bit strange.

NoWayPedro · 05/05/2013 20:15

Who comes up with these names, seriously "community payback" and I read about "work-related activities"' on another thread the other day.

Ridiculous.

jacks365 · 05/05/2013 20:15

Its just a blanket policy that's been around for years, probably since before crb checks. Besides could you imagine the cost of crb checks for everyone. I can't see why the school even mentioned it since it would be in the holiday anyway.

christinarossetti · 05/05/2013 20:20

It's elf and safety if maintenance and cleaning are involved.

Wherever possible ie if it's not urgent, maintenance and cleaning are done when the children aren't on the premises whoever is doing it.

The letter is poorly worded, but I imagine that in essence it's saying that the school wants to keep screwdrivers, spanners and cleaning fluids away from young children, whoever is using them.