26th Jun 2012
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012: Compliance Alert
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 received Royal Assent on 1st May 2012. It contains all of the new safeguarding and vetting requirements that will affect individuals in sport and recreation organisations who have contact with children and vulnerable adults.
The legislation is now fixed and the new legal requirements are due to come into force in mid to late 2013 with statutory guidance being released by the Government later this year.
The CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) will be merged later this year to form the Disclosure and Barring Services which will issue all disclosures.
Impact of the Act on the sport and recreation sector
There are three significant changes that organisations need to start to understand and
prepare management solutions for in relation to checking individuals that have contact with children and vulnerable adults in their environments. These changes are:
1. Regulated Activity and which individuals must be checked legally.
2. Single Disclosures being sent to individuals only.
3. Continuous Updating and Portability arrangements.