CRB checking silliness

[pseudomonas]

I saw my dad at the weekend (went for geeky day out for his birthday, and thanks to people who suggested Kew Bridge Steam Museum).

Apparently Harrow Council has a (daftly named) "Neighbourhood Champion" scheme, and had suggested that he might be interested (he's involved in a local residents' group). He refused on the basis that he could see nothing in the remit of the role that justified Harrow's requirement for CRB screening — indeed as far as I can see the role doesn't involve anything that any member of the public can't do anyway.

Does anyone know if there is a specific reason for this, or if it's just Harrow (or the Met?) being overzealous in arse-covering?

Comments

[sunflowerinrain]

I don't know about this particular example, but my experience of trying to get a handyman into a sheltered home suggests that it's not the Met. The company running the home insisted that anyone not-family couldn't be allowed in unless they were CRB-checked or there was a family member present. I rang the county police HQ to find out how CRB screening could be done for the handyman and discovered that for an individual, it really can't. The police spokesperson's advice was that it wasn't necessary and I should tell said company not to be so daft (I paraphrase only a little). Didn't work, even put delicately - completely jobsworthed.