'Drawing the Line' - A report on the Government's Vetting and Barring Scheme

The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) is one of the Government’s responses to the Bichard Inquiry which followed the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by Ian Huntley. Its aim is to prevent harm to children or vulnerable adults by those who seek to work with them either as paid staff or volunteers.

From November 2010 people wishing to work with children in specified settings or in specified ways (known as ‘regulated activity’) will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). This will provide assurance that there are no grounds for believing that they present a risk of harm to children and that they have not been statutorily barred from working with them.

This report takes into account public concerns about the Scheme and checks that the Government had drawn the line in the right place in relation to the requirement to register, particularly with regard to the frequency of contact with children which should trigger the obligation to register with the ISA. Views from a wide range of key individuals and organisations on the issues were considered.

Visit the Independent Safeguarding Authority website