'Paedophiles could be allowed to work at schools': Children at risk after loophole found in new Government vetting scheme - 17th May 2011

Home Secretary Theresa May was today accused of doing nothing to deal with a 'glaring loophole' which endangers children in the Government's proposed changes to the child safety vetting scheme.

Under the proposals, someone who has been found grooming a child could be given an unpaid, supervised, voluntary post in a school or group without anyone being told they have previously been barred from working with children.

The move has been condemned by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children as a 'disturbing gap' that would give paedophiles 'a golden opportunity of targeting innocent victims'.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government's changes were 'completely irresponsible'.

'The Government's plans still mean schools taking on a voluntary teaching assistant or voluntary organisations taking on a supervised helper won't be told if they've been previously barred from working with children," she said.

'That is deeply worrying for parents and completely irresponsible.

'The idea that someone who has been found grooming a child could be given a post working with other children, and no one would know, is extremely disturbing. Read More