http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... it-purpose
This vetting system is unfit for purpose
A zero-risk childhood is impossible. Any vetting scheme must be proportionate and not pander to fear
o Tim Gill
o guardian.co.uk, Monday 8 February 2010 17.00 GMT
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What is now needed is a fundamental, thoughtful, broad-based review. Because while the government's recent climbdown may have shrunk the footprint of the new scheme, it has left the architecture intact.
The fact that ISA chair Sir Roger Singleton did not explore why the system ended up where it did only shows that his review was little more than a quick fix to take the political sting out of the issue. All the fundamental questions remain. Questions about cost. About due process. About data protection. About checks giving a false sense of security. About malicious accusations and people being wrongly identified as paedophiles. And, most profoundly, about the wider implications of living in a society in which casual, freely given offers of help are met not with appreciation but with deep suspicion.
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• Tim Gill is appearing on Panorama tonight, debating the government's vetting scheme
