Farron argues for a "better balance" with CRB checks for volunteers

4.49.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Oct 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has expressed his concern that excessive CRB checks are deterring people from volunteering and has called for a simplification of the process to protect children and reduce bureaucracy.

Mr Farron tabled an Early Day motion in the House of Commons calling for the Government to provide greater monitoring of inappropriate checks.

Tim's motion comes after it was revealed that last year 240,000 CRB applications were wrongly confused with other forms.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"No one would disagree that CRB checks play a vital role in protecting the vulnerable; but this doesn't mean that the system can't be improved.

"What we have now is a system that is so inflexible that thousands of people are being forced to have multiple checks for different jobs because the checks are not transferable from one to another.

"In my own personal experience, I have two CRB checks for two voluntary roles I perform in my local community - teaching at Sunday School, and volunteering with the local Youth Group. Like many other volunteers, I ask myself the question 'why can't one check suffice for both roles?

"The current system of excessive checks has created a massive barrier standing in the way of people who want to volunteer."