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+--- Thread: Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers (/showthread.php?tid=1502)
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - BAJR Host - 6th April 2009
All useful info in what may/may not be needed in volly/community work
Thanks for all this.
I can't help but feel that when my mum sent me off on abus to the other side of edinburgh, to work for those nice chaps at the Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society ... there was none of this.. and I can confirm that I had a great time, did not kill myself or was interfered with... I jsut find it so sad that becasue of a tiny tiny number of incidents that form filling and risk are now seen as almost more important than the archaeology. I guess I would not be in the **** if I had done disclosure and the person still turned out to be a child killer, but had not been caught.. I could be shown to have done everything I could to protect ... I do see the reasoning... I also know of many people put off by what they see as intrusion.
thanks again to all who helped explain it to me
"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - RedEarth - 6th April 2009
Quote:quote:
I jsut find it so sad that becasue of a tiny tiny number of incidents that form filling and risk are now seen as almost more important than the archaeology.
Serious accidents and child abuse, more important than archaeology! Heresy!
I agree that it does seem a bit over the top but these are the times we are living in. Be thankful you are not a teacher. Are we about to see a 'politcal correctness gone mad' style Daily Mail slant to Past Horizons? Perhaps a few headlines about Lady Di first...
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - BAJR Host - 6th April 2009
hmmm... potential there!
Immigrants shock.. Romans come over ere, with their fish sauce! snort!!!!!!!!
Anglo- Saxons! Anglo- Saxons! I'll give you Anglo- Saxons!
I suppose the point being that if child abuse is going to happen on an archaeological site with lots of volunteers, I would suspect that there are easier ways.. that said, I recently had a request from a local group to remove a photo that showed a child troweling... (wait for it) just in case a paedophile was to find it..! yup, it is often the case that paedophiles search the web looking for "children troweling earth" as a a search term
This is a serious issue.. there are however ways of dealing with it, and ways of dealing with it.
Perhaps... returning to the Villa... the criminal record they are watching out for is mosaic theft... who knows.. all we see is that you will be checked..
"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - monty - 6th April 2009
ridiculous !!......many major excavations in the twentieth century had prisoners doing the digging.......im sure many benefited from the joys of excavating...........
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - RedEarth - 6th April 2009
Quote:quote:Originally posted by monty
ridiculous !!......many major excavations in the twentieth century had prisoners doing the digging.......im sure many benefited from the joys of excavating...........
Indeed, I heard of one historic site where clearance of a cellar was carried out by prisoners, and strangely enough nothing was found!
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - kevin wooldridge - 6th April 2009
Befoe we all fall over with paroxysm's of Daily Mail-itis,. can I try and balance the discussion....
The Criminal Records Bureau is not soley concerned with vetting persons who work with children. The law that created the bureau also includes 'vulnerable adults' within it's remit. For that reason many charity and/or volunteer bodies use the 'standard' checking facility of the bureau, mainly as a cover against any potential legal case that might arise from their activities. Many charities or volunteer bodies that receive grant funding are required to carry out this checking, particularly if the grant aid is made on an 'educational' basis.
So although I no nothing of the activities of the Brading Villa excavation team (although I have visited the site!!), I would suggest that maybe we don't get to apoleptic about this advert. It may be something outside of their direct control.
For the benefit of those who say 'we never had CRB in my day' it should be noted that the CRB was first proposed in 1997 (part V of the Police Act 1997) and wasn't launched until 2002. I couldn't comment on whether or not the type of offence that the CRB seeks to protect us from, was more or less prevelant before that date.
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - troll - 6th April 2009
As a bit of an add-on.....the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 stipulates that after defined periods post-conviction have lapsed, an ex-offender is not compelled by law to divulge a previous record. Exemptions to this are explicitly in the context of working with vulnerable groups including children but in general relate to situations where an individual would be in unsupervised positions responsible for those vulnerable peeps. A field archaeologist working on a site where visits by children are supervised by others should not be asked to divulge personal details relating to previous convictions. The employer would have a duty of care to ensure that all staff and personel working directly with vulnerable groups are vetted appropriately.:face-huh:
..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - drpeterwardle - 7th April 2009
The law is strict on publishing photographs of people who are not co-incident to the scene - their permission is needed. This is a simple privacy issue.
As for Criminal Records check. Offenders currently serving and X offenders were a key part of archaeology in the 1970s and 1980s.
Peter
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - Digger - 7th April 2009
I agree that asking for Vollies to have a CRB seems a bit much. On the public projects that I have worked on staff were required to be CRB checked. We also didn't have volunteers under the age of 16 (YAC did its own thing with staff). We were also aware to keep an eye on vulnerable adults (think bullying or sexual harrasement). All in all we had no problems. The health issue allowed ask to task accordingly for volunteers with physical or mental health issues. I felt it was more so that I could look after the wellfare of the volunteers working for me. As far as CRB checks- vounteers shouldn't be left in a position were they are unsupervised (from a health and safety point anyway).
David, I don't know if you remember the movie stripes?(Bill Murry) There was a nice bit of play on words with regards to criminal convictions when they were interviewed for the Army.
Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers - BAJR Host - 7th April 2009
Recruiting Sarge: "Have you ever been convicted of any crimes?"
Bill Murray: "Convicted? No, not convicted."
like it... must try that one myself.. <cough>
"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli