BACKGROUND checks for people working with children need to be tightened up to avoid the Soham murder scenario in Guernsey. The Home Department has gone out to consultation on recommendations that come in the wake of the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002.

It wants the Bailiwick to use the Criminal Records Bureau in England or Disclosure Scotland to carry out standard or enhanced checks.

‘The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, brought the whole question of the effectiveness of disclosure checks of those seeking to work with children and vulnerable adults into the sharpest of focus,’ said Home minister Geoff Mahy.

The subsequent Bichard report identified a series of failings in the system then in place for checking the previous conviction and non-conviction information.

That had resulted in Ian Huntley being employed as a school caretaker.

‘From this position Huntley was able to gain the trust of the school pupils and the tragic consequences are, sadly, only too well known,’ said Deputy Mahy.

‘Clearly Guernsey cannot afford to be complacent in its approach when checking the past of applicants for such posts locally. What happened in a small rural town in Cambridgeshire could happen here.’

He added that the department and the police were aware that people trying to gain a position of trust working with children or vulnerable adults were among some of the most devious offenders.

‘They will seek out and exploit the weakest link in any vetting system,’ said Deputy Mahy.

‘Guernsey must not become that weakest link.’

The department believes it is essential for the States fully to mirror the best practice recommended by the Bichard inquiry.

It proposes that the States becomes a registered body with either the CRB or DS.

Those two agencies provide access to criminal record and other information for organisations through a service called disclosure.

It is designed to help organisations make more informed decisions when recruiting people into positions of trust.

There are three levels of disclosure – basic, standard and enhanced.

Guernsey Police would continue to provide basic ones because of the differences in legislation with the UK.

The cost would increase.

‘The department acknowledges that the proposed approach will place an additional financial burden on departments but, given the importance of ensuring such checks remains in line with best practice, it believes that a partnership with CRB or Disclosure Scotland will offer the most effective and cost-efficient option,’ it said in the consultation document.

Different ways could be used to cover the cost, including requiring the person subject to the check to pay.

Home could impose an additional administration fee, the departments could absorb the cost or non-States bodiess could pay at a higher tariff.

‘Whichever option is selected the cost to the States will be substantially higher if such checks continued to be undertaken through the Guernsey Police.’

It estimates it would cost more than £220,000 a year for them to do all the checks.

Registered charities would not be charged for checks on volunteers if the proposal were accepted. Home wants to bring in the changes by next year.

Consultation ends on Monday 14 May.

The three checks

Basic – Provides a list of unspent convictions and cautions and is used for standard pre-employment checks. It would be done by the police and cost £15, plus an administration charge

Standard – Provides a list of all convictions and cautions. It is used for things such as housing licence applications or bus drivers. If done by the CRB it would cost £31 plus administration, by Disclosure Scotland £20 plus administration

Enhanced – Provides a list of all convictions and cautions and relevant non-conviction data and is the check carried out for people working with children and vulnerable adults. If done by the CRB it would cost £36 plus administration, by Disclosure Scotland £20 plus administration