Press Release
13th March 2001
McNeil Welcomes Extension of Free Criminal Records Checks
MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has welcomed today's announcement that free Criminal Record checks will be extended to volunteers working with vulnerable adults.
Voluntary groups will be able to ask volunteers to provide a criminal record certificate giving details of any previous convictions. The aim is to increase protection for vulnerable adults from the small number of people who may try to use their position to take advantage of them.
Free criminal record checks for volunteers working with children were announced by the Executive last December.
Mr McNeil said:
"The vast majority of those who work with vulnerable adults and children are involved for the best of reasons.
"Sadly, however, there is a small, but dangerous, minority who seek to exploit the very people they are supposed to care for. They must be stopped.
"Checking a volunteer's criminal record plays an important part in providing better protection for all vulnerable people, be they children or adults.
"I am therefore pleased that criminal records checks will be extended to volunteers working with vulnerable adults - at no cost to them or to voluntary groups."
A central body is being established to help voluntary children’s organisations make the best possible use of the checks. Its services will also be available to voluntary organisations working with vulnerable adults.
ENDS
Notes
1. Part V of the Police Act 1997 will extend access to criminal record checks considerably. There will be three types of certificates:
Criminal Conviction Certificates (CCCs) will be available to any individual on application and will show all convictions which are not spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA).
Criminal Record Certificates (CRCs) will be for those whose occupations are exceptions to the ROA, for example positions concerned with social services or health services. These certificates will contain details of spent and unspent convictions. A copy of the certificate will go to the employer or voluntary organisation and to the individual.
Enhanced Criminal Record Certificates (ECRCs) will be mainly for those in positions which involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children. These certificates will contain details of spent and unspent convictions and other non-conviction information from local police records considered relevant to the position being sought. A copy will go to the employer or voluntary organisations and to the individual.
2. The Scottish Criminal Record Office will issue these certificates on behalf of Scottish Ministers. It is estimated that the cost of the certificates will be around £10. The central body will process applications from those who benefit from free checks.
3. The cost of extending the free checks will be met from the £1.25 million a year already announced.
4. It is estimated that around 100,000 volunteers work exclusively with vulnerable adults.
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