BBC News - Adults 'scared to go near kids'

[Alan Charter]

Many adults are afraid to interact with children for fear of being labelled as paedophiles, a report has claimed.

Think-tank Civitas said the "escalation of child protection measures" had made everyone from sports coaches to Santas seem like "potential child abusers".

The Home Office said there was no evidence that vetting had deterred volunteers or eroded trust.

It plans to tighten the rules further, so all parents hosting foreign exchange students will face background checks.

In its report, Licensed to Hug, Civitas said that child protection regulations had "succeeded in poisoning the relationship between the generations".

Read the full story at news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7474692.stm

[Peter Shields]

Good discussion about it on "Today" program (Radio4) this morning as well.

I think we all know that the reason many males don't want to work with children (in a secular setting as well as Christian ministry) is the fear of being labelled a pervert.

I believe that most child protection measures are actually making the climate more dangerous for children in society overall than the limited benefit they bring. CRB's only prove that someone hasn't been caught doing something yet ... they deter people who have minor criminal records applying (but who would actually make excellent role-models for children) ... they won't deter determined paedo's (who will simply get a false ID) ... and actually lower people's guard by creating a false sense of security.

However, we're in a climate now where to question any of these things is seen as some sort of tacit approval of child abuse! Just like we aren't able to talk about racism or diversity or any of the other subjects that are "thought policed" in dispassionate terms anymore.

[Alan Charter]

It strikes me that there are two key issues here...

- Growing confidence in those who are called, competent or wanting to explore working with children to do so from a place of good information and wisely informed practice. We need ministry that is values driven, not bounded blindly by health and safety issues or a fear culture.

- Helping churches and those implementing policy to do so with understanding of the those policies. Any working practices and guidelines are only as effective as the understanding, by those who hold responsibility, of why parameters are set and for what purpose...

Perhpas we need to take on board some of Paul's encouragement to Timothy in 1 Tim 4...!

[Ruth Thomas]

It seems to me that the law is nowhere near as prescriptive as most people view it as being. I've heard it said "Of course by law nobody with a criminal record can work with children" -- that's simply not true, it's quite possible for someone who's committed a crime unrelated to children to become a youth worker or Sunday school teacher (and as Peter says above, they may make excellent role-models). Part of the battle is getting across that you can still be acceptable even if you are not squeeky-clean. Hmm -- I've heard that thought before somewhere... perhaps if we our theology was stronger, our child protection policies would be more effective...

[Kay Morgan-Gurr]

I am a strong advocate of robust child protection. The problem I come across frequently (as a child protection advisor for many groups) is the knee jerk reactions to legislation and recommendations. There is a lot of scaremongering about child protection out there – especially in some areas of the church. This causes churches to put such restrictive rules in place that their work just cannot continue. The work then closes claiming child protection as the reason! This then feeds the panic and so the vicious cycle descends into a wrong view of child protection.
I have come across churches whose rules actually put children at greater risk, because they are thinking “Rules” and “covering my back” and not thinking what is best for the child. You don’t need a crb to rescue a child running into the road in front of a car. (This was the reason I was given a few weeks ago for having everyone crb checked!) You rescue the child and fill our your incident book!
I find the church falls into three groups in this discussion:
• The ones who shut their eyes and say we don’t need any of this – churches are safe places.
• The ones who take recommendations and thoughts and turn them into restrictive law to the point you dare not even comfort an injured child.
• The rare ones who take the law and interpret it in a safe way and in the best interests of the child.
Openness, accountability and supervision are the biggest weapons we have against abuse. CRB’s can be helpful and should be carried out, but with the rider that many paedophiles would have a clear crb check!
Too many damaging decisions are made in the name of child protection that do nothing to even protect the children and aren’t actually law. And yet, whilst doing this in our kids work, we don’t supervise people within our churches where we know there IS a problem!
My Litmus test is – is what I am suggesting/modelling/doing for the benefit of the children in my care? If a child is running out into the road……..rescue them!

[Ruth Thomas]

Thank you Kay, that's very helpful and I couldn't agree more. I'd like to add that this isn't just a Christian problem. I hang around steam railways quite a bit, which are generally volunteer-run, family-friendly places, but some of them are struggling with similar issues and coming to the conclusion that it might be easier just to say "no under 18s allowed"...

[Jane Dixon]

My husband and I warmly embrace the child protection measures employed by our local churches (from state and federal law - Australia). Both of us have suffered as children at the hands of those who should not have been allowed near kidsv (neither with a criminal record), and now we have children of our own there is no lessening of our support for this type of accountability and protection.
It doesn't stop my husband from feeling like he's being checked over as a possible danger when he shops, walks, plays in the park, or drops our daughter off to children's activities.
People are much more aware now, and much more likely to take an interest in the safety and care of a stranger's children. It has it's good and bad points! We agree though that the positive, far outweighs the negative benefits.

[Ruth Thomas]

Readers of this thread should read Esther Rantzen's article in the Daily Mail last week, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1033483/I-launched-Childline-protect-vulnerable--unleashed-politically-correct-monster.html. It made me weep, as I can see all the good reasons why we got into the current situation and all the appaling consequences, and can't see how as a society we can ever claw our way back towards common sense. I'm not blaming Rantzen -- Childline was only a very small part of the issue, and no-win-no-fee lawyers probably a much bigger part.

Jane, I'm glad you feel that people are more likely now to take an interest in the care of a stranger's children. I don't feel that to be the case in the UK. My feeling is that my neighbours are much less likely now to intervene to help protect my children than was true in my own childhood -- they are too scared to get involved. Even stopping a child running out into the road risks an accusation of abuse. About three years ago a two-year-old was killed in a house I can see from my bedroom window, by his stepfather. Many neighbours guessed there was abuse going on, but nobody did anything. After all, Social Services were already aware of the family so there can't be anything for for a non-professional do...

[Jennifer Cowley]

Kay is right about openness, accountability and supervision being important. I would also add raised awareness as a key issue. It's true that the criminal record checks are about the least effective way of screening out inappropriate people. The screening process needs to include other things as well, but when people are more aware of issues involved such as the methodology used by many paedophiles, then I think our children will be safer and 'safe' people will feel more confident about working with children. i am amazed at the number of church people who still think that child protection is a matter for others but not them - 'it doesn't happen here'.