What do you lot think about this idea of giving lone mothers the right to do CRB checks on a potential partner?

[WhizzBangCaligula]

Does anyone else find this a bit wierd? I can't find any links to the story today, but on Friday I think it was, the Home Office suggested lone parents might have the right to do a CRB check on someone they're thinking of setting up home with "if they have good reason to".

Er, what would a "good reason" be then? Surely if you had any doubts about a prospective partner, you wouldn't touch them with a barge pole anyway?

I'm a bit bemused by this. What do others think?

Oh Jesus no I'd still manage to muff it up and I'd probably get the only phychopath who didn't yet have a criminal record!!!
Someone pour me a glass of wine

I love this idea - but as those who know me might remember, I have a major problem with the reliabilty of CRB checks

Just to clarify, a CRB check can only be done with the person's consent, in fac they have to complete the application.

A basic CRB check would only reveal actual convictions, but an enhanced CRB would show up other information such as cautions, being involved in police enquiries etc.

Although it's not something I would be keen on doing, it could be useful for vulnerable mothers who have a history of being involved in abusive relationships, I guess.

I have to disagree with the following...

"A basic CRB check would only reveal actual convictions, but an enhanced CRB would show up other information such as cautions, being involved in police enquiries etc."

Not necessarily true. My grandsons parents were arrested and we went through two court cases which resulted in him being placed with us permanently. His dad has also previously been prevented (by the courts)from seeing his older son due to his violent nature - and yet NOTHING shows up on his records, there is nothing 'official' to say he has ever hurt a child let alone had one taken from him on a permenant basis of been 'legally' banned from any contact with another.

i am sorry but i dont like this idea. i appreciate that its terrifying to think of being used by someone to get to our kids but i dont agree with this kind of police state mentality. normal non paedophiles have a right to privacy and this is an invasion. where does it end - police checks on our childrens friends beofre they stay out over night? Credit checks on potential dates to see if they are solvent? What about grandparents - frisking at the door maybe? also a vindictive woman could use it to police check a partners girlfriend. doesnt exactly make us single parents an attractive bet either and i do agree that once again, along with mr camerons new "family values", it will just be used to beat us with.

havent read it all - never do - but love the sound of it. could vet any possible dodgy birds without all the usual bother - psychotics and such like - just love it

As already said i think, crb checks are only good for the paedophiles who are caught. Most abuse kids for a good number of years before they get caught unfortunatly. So a partner would really be non the wiser.
These preditors are, indeed very clever people and we all know through the media etc...how hard it is to actually secure a conviction these days .
Police checks do sadly take a long time to come through, or at least they used to not so long ago..so then what do you do in the meantime? put the relationship on hold?.
Good idea in theory but the practice could be something different i fear.

Hang on a mo, I would be really really glad if this were allowed.
My second child's father seemed like the 'nicest bloke in the world' when I only knew him through friends. Within a month of our relationship beginning, I was calling the police because of his unhinged behaviour - I put it down to a one off though and didn't finish with him.
Only later did he admit to having been to prison - he said a long time ago - and always laughed it off when I wanted to know what he'd been inside for.
I left him in the end but still fear him, mainly because I don't know the truth of what he is capable of.
Had this system been available I would have jumped at it, might be in a very different position now - and I've still got thepotential threat of access hanging over me.
I need to know all I can if I am to stand a chance of protecting this child from a possibly very dangerous man. But I can't find out.

joash that is terrifying, I always thought it would show up

I wouldn't mind being checked up on behind my back (they wouldnt find any guilty secrets lol). If a future partner insisted on discussing it with me though, it would probably be the end of the relationship!

Hi,i have been separated from my ex for 18 months now.
I have a 5 year old son with my ex and his due to be 6 soon.Everything was going pretty well in regards to seeing him on every wednesday and and having him at mine every second weekend (picking him up from work on a friday and taking him back on a sunday).The weekends i dont have have him he stays with my ex's mum .
I met someone else 8 months ago and ever since then she has been making things hard for me and saying certain things to me and my son and now its taking effect on my him and it is also stopping me from getting on in my life.I dont owe her anything and i had good reason to leave when i did 18 months ago.
My ex does not really care for the welfare of my son and because my ex's life is not going to well (due to her party life style and come downs from her crazy weekends) she is sure trying to make an effort to make my life a misery as much as she can.
I was due to pick my son up on friday to have him for the weekend,he really has been grasping the days i come get him and loved the way his eyes lit up when i would come to get him but due to reasons i dont know of (well i think i do) she has refused me from seeing him.
For the last 10 weeks i have not talked to my ex and only communicated through my father and her mum and this seemed to be helping my situation alot due to her hostile and aggresive behaviour plus stuff she would say to me when i would go to collect my son but after the third time of not letting me see my son on the days i was due to see him i had had enough

I have applied for a contact order and parental responsibility and have and the court hearing is next month.
my father ,her mother and my ex will be there.my new partner will be there also..
I am on the birth certificate but was not there to register my son with my ex so they waved to right of having parental responsibility (i have doubled check)...has anyone been through this type of situation? because im representing myself and not so much as talked to some in the family court system i have not got a clue how this is gonna go...will the court permit me my joint parental reponsibility or not ,i have not got a clue...please help...

soulman, it might be worth making this a new thread. But to answer your question about parental responsibility, a court will almost certainly grant a Parental Responsibility Order (PRO) if you apply for it. They will most likely grant a contact order as well, although that may take a while to go through the system. It's good that you have a precedent about having your son every other weekend plus mid-week contact.

I'd strongly suggest you join Families Need Fathers. They can offer a lot of support and advice about these situations. They can also put you in touch with "MacKenzie Friends", people who aren't solicitors but who can help you put your case together and give you advice in court (although they can't represent you in court).

Keep everything about your son's best interests. This is not about you seeing your son, it's about your son's right to have a relationship with both his parents.

It cuts both ways I guess - there is no reason why a non resident parent shouldn't be able to request a CRB check on the resident parent's boyfriend.

I have a sneaking suspicion this would be chalked up as evidence of a `controlling' attitude.

Hang on...I am CRB checked - perhaps the court could take that into account at the next hearing my ex tries to deny my son time with his father? No? Thought not!

As a single parent who doesn't deny her children unlimited time with their dad, despite his behaviour, I'd be appalled if he could do checks on my future partners.

He is INCREDIBLY controlling, and at the moment that aspect of my private life is the only thing that he doesn't try to dominate.

Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly want to date anyone with a criminal record. And I would think (long and hard, albeitly) about crbing potential live-in boyfriends if it were possible. But I have NO desire for him to have access to this information.

It may not be popular but I have thought it should be possible for a long time, although it is rare to be targeted in this way it does happen and the effects can be devestating.

Arrests would not show up because an arrest does not indicate guilt, just suspicion of guilt. This is why it is only cautions and convictions.

It should be done with the permission of the person, they can refuse and it is up to the SP what they do about that. If something comes back then the SP should be told that there is a problem but they would have to go to the person for the report giving details, again it would be up to the person if they gave it and up to the SP what they would do if they were refused the report.

If the person being checked has to complete and submit the form then no-one else can check them out behind their back.

Yes it only shows cautions and convictions not intentions and thoughts however a little is better than nothing.