Section 70: Participation in Scheme
133.Section 70 substitutes a new section 45 (Participation in Scheme) into the PVG Act. The new section 45(1) provides that an individual aged 16 or over may apply to participate in the PVG Scheme (the “Scheme”), or if already a scheme member apply to renew their membership. This is read with section 45(2) which sets out the type of regulated roles in relation to which an individual can participate in the Scheme i.e. individuals may participate in the Scheme in relation to regulated roles with children, regulated roles with adults, or both types of regulated role. The new section 45(3) states that Ministers must allow membership unless the person is under the age of 16, or barred from carrying out the type of regulated role to which their application to join, or renew their membership of, the Scheme relates.
134.For the avoidance of doubt, while individuals under the age of 16 years cannot participate in the PVG Scheme, they can still carry out activities that would amount to a regulated role if they were aged 16 or over. As set out below (see paragraph 144), the offence provisions for individuals, organisations and personnel suppliers do not apply in relation to individuals under the age of 16 years. This means that individuals under the age of 16 are not within scope of the mandatory scheme. It would be at the discretion of an employing organisation to assess what activities may be appropriate for a person under 16 and to put in place any suitable safeguarding measures both for the individual undertaking the role and any children or protected adults they were working with.