Checks into background of carers postponed

Criminal record checks on tens of thousands of care workers, nurses and school governors have been postponed by the Government.

Ministers made the embarrassing decision to avoid a repeat of the chaos at the Criminal Records Bureau this summer when it was told to scrutinise teachers' backgrounds. A backlog of 100,000 uncompleted checks built up at the overwhelmed bureau, causing some schools to delay the start of term.

The Home Office extended the deadline yesterday for checks on 80,000 care workers from next March to the end of 2004. Checks on school governors and agency nurses are also being deferred for the time being.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Home Office minister responsible, said: "We need to take steps to ensure that the demand for disclosures is in line with the CRB's current ability to process the applications. The Government is committed to the delivery of an effective service for undertaking pre-employment criminal record checks for people working with children and vulnerable adults. The CRB has not so far been able to provide a satisfactory service."

The delays apply to existing care-home workers. New staff will still have to secure approval from the Criminal Records Bureau before being allowed to work with children.

Lord Falconer said steps taken to improve the bureau's performance has resulted in the number of disclosures issued by the agency increasing from an average of 24,500 a week in August to an average of 39,500 a week over three weeks last month.

"The Government remains committed to introducing CRB checks in these areas at the earliest possible opportunity," he added.

The Home Office minister said: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it has had to be done to ensure the long-term viability of the CRB. Everyone who previously had to have criminal record checks is still being checked."