The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Transitory Provisions in Consequence of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) (No. 2) Order 2009

The purpose of this Order is to make transitory provision in consequence of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (Commencement No. 6, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2611).

S.I. 2009/2611 appoints 12th October 2009 as the day for the coming fully into force of various provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”) including section 2 (barred lists). Under that section the Independent Barring Board (established under section 1 of the 2006 Act) is required to establish and maintain lists of those barred from working in regulated activity with children or adults. These lists will replace, in England and Wales, the existing lists under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1999 and section 81 of the Care Standards Act 2002. During a transitional period those on the existing lists will be transferred from those lists onto the new lists under the 2006 Act.

This Order, which has effect until the repeal of section 113C to 113F of the Police Act 1997 (by paragraph 30 of schedule 4 to the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007), provides at articles 3 and 4 that the Police Act 1997 and the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 are to have effect as if they had been modified to include references to these new lists where appropriate. In relation to the Police Act 1997 this will mean that during this period enhanced disclosure certificates issued under the Police Act 1997 may include details of all 4 of the English and Welsh lists (the children’s barred list under section 2(1)(a) of the 2006 Act, the adults’ barred list under section 2(1)(b) of the 2006 Act, the list under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1999 and the list under section 81 of the Care Standards Act 2000). In relation to the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 those disqualified from working with children in Scotland will include those listed on either the children’s barred list under section 2(1)(a) the 2006 Act or the list under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1999.

Article 5 amends the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 to enable enhanced disclosure certificates to also provide details, where relevant, of any appeal against inclusion in the children’s barred list maintained under section 2(1)(a) of the 2006 Act or against inclusion in the adults’ barred list maintained under section 2(1)(b) of that Act as the case may be. The 2006 Act does not provide for “provisional” listing.

Article 6 revokes the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Transitory Provisions in Consequence of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) Order 2009.