Re: CMRL - Using Child Protection Files to Screen People

[Gary <gdumbril@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 02:04 PM 30/05/98 +1000, you wrote:
   
>I have been engaged by New Zealand
>and all of the States and Territories
>of Australia to prepare a report
>regarding whether child 
>protection registers, child
>protection files and/or personnel files
>should be used to screen people who
>have unsupervised contact with children.

I thought you might be interested in this news from Britain:

snip............
UK News:                Electronic Telegraph 
Friday 5 June 1998      Issue 1106

PLANS for a central register of sex offenders, designed to reinforce
existing measures barring paedophiles from working with children, are being
studied by ministers.

They are concerned that the lack of a central register which can be
consulted by schools, carers and voluntary groups may be allowing some
people to slip through the net. Alun Michael, Home Office minister, told
MPs yesterday that other new measures to be considered would include making
it a criminal offence for those on the register to apply for jobs with
children.

The Department for Education and Employment maintains a register called
"list 99" covering people barred from working in schools, while the
Department of Health has an index that childcare organisations and local
councils can consult. Professional bodies also operate codes of conduct and
the police track the movements of sex offenders. Mr Michael said: "The
Government has made it clear that such information must not just sit on a
file or computer or gather dust in a file."

By bringing all the available information together ministers believe that
they can provide more comprehensive protection. The group will also look at
extra protection for 16- and 17-year-olds who could be vulnerable to abuse
from teachers or residential carers. The officials will report by the end
of the year.

end snip...........


Gary Dumbrill