Friday 11th February 2011
Today the Government has announced the outcomes of the Vetting and Barring and Criminal Records Reviews as part of the Protection of Freedoms Bill.
The FA, like many organisations, played a full part in the Government's reviews and has lobbied hard for a proportionate and common sense approach. We are committed to continuing to balance our safeguarding responsibilities and the rights of the individual.
The Government has announced a range of headline recommendations today, for more information please visit: http://www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk/
We welcome a number of these changes, such as a more proportionate approach, streamlining the ISA and the CRB and the concept of portability.
However, this is the only information we have available at this stage and we need to work with the Government and the CRB to establish all of the detail and then review the practical implications of these proposals to our work in football.
The necessary legislative changes will be included in the Protection of Freedoms Bill. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Bill is expected to become law by early 2012. The new regime would be introduced as soon as possible after this.
We appreciate you may have a number of questions or comments regarding this announcement. At this early stage it is unlikely we will be in a position to provide a response.
Once we have received the full policy position from the Government and established the practical implications, we will manage any implications for our safeguarding strategy, policy and procedures in football.
Counties, Leagues and Clubs will receive FA guidance further.
In the meantime please continue with the completion of CRB checks through TMG CRB, as guided by our current policy and regulations.
The FA CRB Guidance can be found at http://thefa.com/TheFA/WhatWeDo/CRB.
The FAQs section gives clear guidance on who should be checked and following these guidelines will ensure that Counties, Leagues and Clubs are operating within current Home Office guidelines. If in doubt whether a specific role is eligible, ask via e-mail FAChecks@TheFA.com or ring 0845 210 8080 to talk to a member of The FA CRB team
If you receive enquiries, please reassure clubs and leagues that The FA will provide all the necessary guidance as soon as we have further details.
Sue Law
Head of Equality and Child Protection