CRB Checks - What's the point?

[nannynick]

What is your view about CRB checks... are they worth having, do they tell you anything useful?

The Bichard Inquiry (PDF) recommended a central registration scheme. We have not got that yet.

Would having a central registration scheme be better?

The Coalition: Our programme for government - says "We will review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to common sense levels."
However... I can not find anything further to that, so what do they mean... what are they doing... what do they feel is a common sense level? Do they feel a central registration system for all childcarers is going too far?

What do you think? Does there need to be some kind of checking system in place?

CRB checks are bizarre

They only only valid on the day they happen

They 'last' 3 years unless someone (OFSTED) doesn't want to pay again when they can last much longer

You can have 20 or 30 of them for different settings

IMO a system like a driving license would be best - pay once (£100?) get a photo card; then each employer/setting can ring up (go on-line) & check you are current (& be charged £10 a throw)

CRB checks are only very limited in their usefulness i.e. they can only tell you if a person has been caught for breaking the law in the past. They do not tell you anything about those who have not been caught yet, or anything about those whose intentions are harmful. They may prevent people who have been caught for crimes within the last 5 years from applying to work in CRB checked jobs, but apart from that, big waste of money IMO

Agree - also like Katymac's idea, makes MUCH more sense!

Oh and time, BIG waste of time (been waiting for mine, even though I have one dated last month from another setting!)

Yes, I would agree that something similar to the driving license could well work - and is what the Bichard Inquiry recommended as far as I can see (a central registration scheme).

They do not tell you anything about those who have not been caught yet, or anything about those whose intentions are harmful.

Principles of English law are that you are innocent until proven guilty, so they couldn't reveal any unproven information. Wouldn't be fair to bar someone based purely on hearsay, would it?