In a new report out today (26 June), Frank Furedi, professor ofsociology at the University of Kent, argues that a climate of suspicionhas led to adults becoming wary of interacting with children other thantheir own.
The report, published by think-tank Civitas, says it is time to 'haltthe juggernaut of regulation' and suggests that society should trustthat most adults are not predators and can be relied on to helpchildren.
Professor Furedi said, 'Although most of those we spoke to or surveyedin the voluntary sector accepted that "unfortunately" a system ofnational vetting was now a fact of life, a significant minority havebeen discouraged from working with children because it's "not worth theeffort".'
Professor Furedi said that suspicion of grown-up behaviour towardschildren has led to a climate where it is now 'normal' for some parentsto only trust adults who have 'official clearance'.
He gave the example of a parent who let her child out to play withanother child, whose mother knocked on the door and said, 'I mustintroduce myself as we haven't met.' 'I thought she was going to tell meher name, have a chat, but she said she was CRB checked and her husbandwas CRB checked and then went away. I still don't know her name!,' saidthe mother.
Professor Furedi said, 'When parents feel in need of officialreassurance that other parents have passed the paedophile test beforethey even start on the pleasantries, this indicates something has gonebadly wrong in our communities.'
FURTHER INFORMATION
'Licensed to Hug: How child protection policies are poisoning therelationship between the generations and damaging the voluntary sector',by Frank Furedi and Jennie Brostow, costs 6 fromwww.civitas.org.uk.