The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Transitory Provisions in Consequence of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007) Order 2009

The purpose of this Order is to make provision in consequence of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (2007 Order) (Commencement No. 5, Transitional provisions and Savings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (“The NI Order”).

The NI Order appoints 12th October 2009 as the day for the coming fully into force of various provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (“the 2007 Order”) including article 6 (barred lists). Under that article the Independent Barring Board (established under article 5 of the 2007 Order) is required to establish and maintain lists of those barred from working in regulated activity with children or adults. These lists will replace, in Northern Ireland, the existing lists under article 3 or 35 of the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (SI 2003/417) and any list kept for the purposes of regulations under article 70(2)(e) or 88A(2)(b) of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (SI 1986/594). During a transitional period those on the existing lists will be transferred from those lists onto the new lists under the 2007 Order.

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 article 3 that the Police Act 1997 is to have effect as if it had been modified to include references to the new lists where appropriate. This will mean that during this transitional period enhanced disclosure certificates issued under the Police Act 1997 may include details of all 5 of the Northern Irish lists (the children’s barred list under article 6(1)(a) the 2007 Order, the adults’ barred list under article 6(1)(b) of the 2007 Order, the list under article 3 of the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, the list under article 35 of that Order and any list kept for the purposes of regulations under article 70(2)(e) or 88A(2)(b) of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986).

Article 4 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 article 6(1)(a) of the 2007 Order or against inclusion in the adults’ barred list maintained under article 6(1)(b) of that Order as the case may be. The 2007 Order does not provide for “provisional” listing.