Under-fire new disclosure system �could cost £20m�
By Tristan Stewart-Robertson

PLUMBERS and electricians working in schools could face new background checks under a controversial overhaul of the country's disclosure system.

Government officials are trying to figure out how to implement legislation brought in last year, with volunteer and charity groups saying they need at least four years to get everyone processed. The government has put aside £4.75 million for a new Central Barring Unit, but some estimates warn it could cost £20m.

The Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations represents Scotland's 55,000 charities with about 129,000 staff, 80% of whom work with children or vulnerable people. There are an estimated 1.2 million Scots who volunteer.

In its response to the government's 120-page consultation document, SCVO recommended a one-year phasing-in period to prepare for the changes. It would then take at least three years to check all staff and volunteers.

The cost of disclosure checks is already huge for some charities. The government covers the cost of checks on volunteers, but not employees. One charity spent £40,000 over nine months last year on the disclosure system.

With 64% of voluntary organisations already on budgets of less than £25,000 a year, any rise in vetting costs is serious.

Checking a fifth of working adults, at the current fee of £20 each, would cost taxpayers or companies almost £13m. Yet that doesn't include the cost of setting up a new disclosure agency or its admin costs. Current estimates have warned of a bill upwards of £20m.

And individual organisations, such as local youth football clubs, would be required to save and protect the information about the adults volunteering.

Lucy McTernan, director of corporate affairs at SCVO, said: "One in five Scots could go through disclosure checks. I am also very concerned that while young people want more opportunities and activities we are creating a system that makes it more difficult for people to volunteer with young people."

Under the new system, there would be two key lists - one barring work with children and one for vulnerable adults. A database would also hold the details of everyone else who had been disclosure checked. Local authorities and the courts would be able to pass information to the Central Barring Unit, but it is not clear what might be included. Fixed penalty notices could also be added.

Judith Gillespie, of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said disclosure checks could protect against "chance" crimes such as the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by school janitor Ian Huntley. She warned that every adult could soon face background checks.

If a plumber or guest speaker went into a school more than once in a school year, it could be classed as "normal duties" and require checks.

Within weeks, the Scottish government will tackle a legal loophole that could prevent parent councils meeting in schools or the use of school buildings by other adult groups.

Gillespie added: "People have lost common sense. Eventually it will be like going for a passport and every working adult will have to go through a disclosure check.

"You can go back to the 19th century system where a thick white line was painted across the school yard and no parent could cross that line. But if you want a school as a community asset, you have to allow parents in."

A Scottish government spokesman said details of the consultation will be published later this year. He added: "We have a duty to protect the most vulnerable people in our society. That's why we are committed to ensuring those who come into regular contact with vulnerable groups through their work do not have a history of abusive behaviour."

He said the new scheme would put in place a "robust and streamlined vetting and barring system" and end the need for people working with vulnerable groups to complete multiple checks.