Parents banned from watching their own children... in case they are pedophiles!
LONDON, England - October 28, 2009 - Parents are being banned from playing with their children in council recreation areas because they have not been vetted by police.
Mothers and fathers are being forced to watch their children from outside perimeter fences because of fears they could be pedophiles.
Watford Council was branded “a disgrace” yesterday after excluding parents from two fenced-off adventure playgrounds unless they first undergo criminal record checks.
Children as young as five will instead be supervised by council “play rangers” who have been cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau.
Councillors insist they are merely following government regulations and cannot allow adults to walk around playgrounds “unchecked”.
But furious parents attacked the move and threatened to boycott the playgrounds.
Concerns were raised last night that other councils around the country are adopting similar policies amid confusion over government rules and increasing hysteria over child protection.
It comes amid an escalating debate over the government's new anti-pedophile database, which will contain the names of more than 11 million adults cleared to work with children and vulnerable adults.
Mother-of-five Marcella Bergin, 35, from Watford, who has been visiting the play areas for many years, said, “It's like they are branding all parents potential pedophiles, which is disgraceful. Ninety-nine per cent of people are great parents and certainly not child abusers.”
Mother-of-eight Jenny Abbasi, 41, whose children also use the playgrounds, called the new rules “a disgrace.”
Miss Abbasi, from Garston, Hertfordshire, said, “I have been using the playgrounds for 18 years and it's a sad day when parents cannot be involved with the enjoyment of their children.”
The rules were imposed at Harwoods and Harebreaks adventure recreation grounds starting this week.
Activities on the half-acre sites include a skateboard half-pipe, a zip line and rope swings.
Play rangers patrol both parks - which are for children aged five to 15 - and are fully qualified with CRB checks.
Parents already have to “register” their children on arrival so staff workers have their contact details in the event of an accident. But now only those who have been selected for CRB vetting by the council can enter the sites.
Mayor Dorothy Thornhill argued the council was merely enforcing government policy at the play areas.
“Sadly, in today's climate, you can't have adults walking around unchecked in a children's playground and the adventure playground is not a meeting place for adults,” she said.
But the Tories claimed the debate showed the government's heavy-handed approach to safeguarding was “completely out of control.”
Councillors insist they are merely following government regulations and cannot allow adults to walk around playgrounds “unchecked”.
But furious parents attacked the move and threatened to boycott the playgrounds.
Concerns were raised last night that other councils around the country are adopting similar policies amid confusion over government rules and increasing hysteria over child protection.
It comes amid an escalating debate over the government's new anti-pedophile database, which will contain the names of more than 11 million adults cleared to work with children and vulnerable adults.
Mother-of-five Marcella Bergin, 35, from Watford, who has been visiting the play areas for many years, said, “It's like they are branding all parents potential pedophiles, which is disgraceful. Ninety-nine per cent of people are great parents and certainly not child abusers.”
Mother-of-eight Jenny Abbasi, 41, whose children also use the playgrounds, called the new rules “a disgrace.”
Miss Abbasi, from Garston, Hertfordshire, said, “I have been using the playgrounds for 18 years and it's a sad day when parents cannot be involved with the enjoyment of their children.”
The rules were imposed at Harwoods and Harebreaks adventure recreation grounds starting this week.
Activities on the half-acre sites include a skateboard half-pipe, a zip line and rope swings.
Play rangers patrol both parks - which are for children aged five to 15 - and are fully qualified with CRB checks.
Parents already have to “register” their children on arrival so staff workers have their contact details in the event of an accident. But now only those who have been selected for CRB vetting by the council can enter the sites.
Mayor Dorothy Thornhill argued the council was merely enforcing government policy at the play areas.
“Sadly, in today's climate, you can't have adults walking around unchecked in a children's playground and the adventure playground is not a meeting place for adults,” she said.
But the Tories claimed the debate showed the government's heavy-handed approach to safeguarding was “completely out of control.”
