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Press Release

22October2012

MANY UK SEX OFFENDERS GETTING JOBS ABROAD AS TEACHERS AND MINISTERS OF RELIGION, SAYS CCPAS
“New ICPCs will make it far harder for ‘sex offender jobseekers’ to succeed”

The Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) today warned churches, schools, mission organisations and international charities that many UK sex offenders are travelling abroad to obtain employment, as church ministers, teachers or charity workers in order to contact children -whom they then abuse. And not only do these positionsof trust give them unfettered access to children, but they also make it more difficult for others to challenge their behaviour, or report the abuse.

CCPAS’s warning comes as CEOP and ACPO launches thenew International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) UK. Simon Bass, CEO of CCPAS, said: “ICPCs should make it far harder for those British nationalswho have already committed sexual offencesto work overseas with children. We know thatone in five convicted or suspected child sex offenders who travel abroad to work are believed to do so simply in order to gainaccess to children. We therefore welcome the new initiativeunreservedly.

“Whilst CRB checks are available for organisations formally connected to the UK, those based abroad are unable to obtain them. We therefore call upon all charities, schools, mission and church-based organisations looking to employ Britons abroad to ensure that all workers obtain a ICPC first. The ICPC must from now on become an integral part of the safer recruitment process which must be in place before anyone, anywhere is appointed to a job working with children”.

CCPAS commend CEOP for spearheading this initiative. As Peter Davies, Chief Executive of CEOP, says:

“There is clear evidence to suggest that serious sex offenders who are known to authorities in the UK will often seek out opportunities to work or volunteer abroad. In many instances this will be through teaching roles but could equally be through other occupations such as charity worker, orphanage worker or as a children’s home worker. The International Child Protection Certificate is intended to be a world-wide safeguard which will give employers and voluntary organisations reassurance that applicants have no convictions in the UK which would make them unsuitable to work with children.

- ENDS –

Media Enquiries:Iain Taylor

Head of Communications

0845 120 4550 or 07979 914217

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Further information on the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) from:

CCPAS is an independent Christian charity providing professional child protection advice and support across church denominations and organisations throughout the UK.

CCPAS was established in 1977. It assists churches, organisations, social services (children and adults social care) and other child care agencies as well as individual children and families by:

  • helping churches and other organisations adopt safe practice in order to protect children from abuse – and youth workers from the possibility of false allegations
  • providing a range of services aimed specifically for academies and faith schools, through our Safeguarding Services for Places of Learning.
  • advising on individual cases, giving ongoing help to leaders and others.
  • training across the UK and providing “in-house” training and other resources
  • acting as external consultants to denominational/organisational child protection advisors
  • counselling individual adults or children about past or present abuse.

For more information, please see

Follow us on Twitter: #theCCPAS

Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service. Company Registered in England No: 2646487 Charity No: 1004490 Scottish Charity No: SCO40578