The Protection of Freedoms Bill is currently working its way through parliament and has reached the penultimate stage before it comes to fruition. The bill is multi-faceted and includes provision to reform both the Barring Scheme and the Criminal Records Regime.

Before the Report Stage could commence, a Marshalled List was published, which grouped together the subjects put forward in the bill, enabling a more efficient examination of the Bill to take place and to allow Members of the Lords to give each element sufficient consideration.

If the Bill is to be amended at this Report Stage it will need to be reprinted in its entirety. Once this has taken place it will be read and debated in the House of Lords for the final time before moving back to the House of Commons where MPs will be free to consider any amendments the Lords have made.

Once the Bill has been passed by both the House of Lords and House of Commons, the Bill will then receive Royal Assent and will come into being sometime in May.   

The Glamorgan Business School hosted a Freshers Welcome event for all new business students starting their studies for the first time at the University.  With many new students having mixed emotions about leaving home, the welcome event was put in place to help new starters feel confident and comfortable with their new surroundings. The event also provided students with the opportunity to meet other new students and academic staff in an informal setting.

Held in the Students’ Union, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Society, Monica Gibson-Sweet began the event by greeting new students. This initial welcome was followed by the presentation of two scholarships as part of the Business Opportunities Scholarships Scheme.  This unique scheme was provided by two local businesses Complete Background Screening (CBS) and Big Country Adventures Ltd to help provide financial support towards the cost of tuition fees.

The Scheme, known as the BOSS Scheme is an innovative approach to creating the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow for applicants applying to undergraduate courses at the Glamorgan Business School. Led by Pontypridd-based company Complete Background Screening (CBS), the scholarship scheme offers a unique package of financial support and mentoring for aspiring business students.

Eligible to undergraduate applicants, the scheme awards scholarships to applicants who can demonstrate a unique flair for business as well as a passion for the subject.

The applicants were required to submit an essay on ' Why I deserve the BOSS scholarship ’ in no more than 500 words. The winning applicant, Laura Haighway, was awarded £1000 by Rachel Bedgood, Director of CBS to help with the cost of her studies. In addition the runner-up, Christopher Kane was presented with a further cheque of £500 funded by Big Country Motocross Ltd. 

Dean of the Faculty of Business and Society, Monica Gibson-Sweet commented: “We greatly appreciate the ongoing support that Rachel Bedgood has provided in establishing the Business Opportunities and Scholarship Scheme (BOSS) which has provided two of our first year students with an extremely valuable financial contribution to their university studies. It would be fantastic if more companies would come forward to support these scheme and help more students to achieve their dreams of a university education”

Rachel Bedgood added: “I am extremely pleased to be part of such a worthwhile and valuable scheme.  We welcome and commend any individuals who are committed to contributing and development business in our area. CBS provide services of pre-employment screening and CRB checks to small local companies through to multi-national blue-chip organisations.  Our continued growth and success is down to simple fundamental methods, one of which is due to our office base in Ynysybwl, Pontypridd -  keeping our overheads low and providing a vital service to the UK and overseas market.  I would like to wish the winning students the very best for the future and look forward to their growth and development within this sometimes tough industry.  Their contribution to our currently struggling economy is certainly welcomed. ”

In a recent bulletin from the Home Office on the Protection of Freedoms Bill, an update was given on the changes to the Vetting & Barring Scheme and to criminal records checks.

On 11th February 2011, the Protection of Freedoms Bill was introduced into the House of Commons and it is currently being reviewed by a number of consultants as it moves towards 'Report Stage'.

The Bill offers changes to the Vetting and Barring Scheme and criminal records checks, including:

- scrapping registration and continuous monitoring
- scrapping controlled activities
- enabling those with convictions for consensual sexual relations between men aged 16 or over (which have since been decriminalised) to apply to have them disregarded

The last bullet point is proposed for England & Wales only, though the criminal records check changes and ISA safeguarding changes will for the most part be mirrored in Northern Ireland.

Other issues were discussed at a recent reading of the Bill, including barring information not being provided on certificates for persons not engaged in regulated activity, and checks on those under 16 years of age in England & Wales.

Discussing 'regulated activity', the bulletin highlighted “The Government does not consider that it is proportionate to require or allow barred list checks on activities that are currently in regulated activity but will not be within the revised scheme, for example, supervised volunteers in schools or activities which entail incidental contact with children or vulnerable adults or work that is ancillary to, or supports others, for example, a hospital cleaner or a caterer within a Further Education college."

On the subject of those under 16 years of age, the bulleting states “this proposal responds to criticism of checking and providing certificates for those aged 15 and under. By no longer issuing certificates, there will be a more proportionate approach to this age group."

The Government has agreed to a number of changes to the original Protection of Freedoms Bill, including:

- The merging of the Criminal Records Bureau and the ISA. This new organisation will be called the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
- Extending regulated activity to those working with 16 / 17 year olds
- The police and/or the Prison and Probation Service will have access to barring information if they need it
- In England & Wales, changes will be made to disputes procedures. Where non-conviction information is contained on an enhanced CRB check, an independent element can be brought in to make the final decision on whether such information should be disclosed.  The Independent Monitor from the Criminal Records Bureau will review the information, seek a view from the police and then make the decision.

These changes will not be finalised until the Protection of Freedoms Bill receives Royal Assent. Once this has been granted, the Government will notify us when the agreed changes will take effect. The final Bill is expected in Spring 2012.

If you need any advice regarding criminal records checks and the changing legislation, please call us on 01443 799 900.