SOME of those working in scouting in South Devon have not been criminal record checked, it has been revealed.

As Scouting UK makes a nationwide push to ensure all adults working in the organisation have been checked before the end of the year, it has emerged that about six local scouting workers — many of whom who have worked in the movement for decades — have never been checked. The figure represents only about two per cent of scouting staff.

Adults given an appointment in scouting have been subject to internal checks for decades, but now everyone will be required to have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check as well.

For the last five years anyone new to the organisation, those who changed position or appointments that have come up for their five yearly review have been CRB checked.

But some people working on an ad-hoc basis or those who have been involved in the organisation for many years haven't been included the CRB checks.

David Johnson, editor of the Torbay Scouts newsletter said: "The Scout Association as with all employers dealing with vulnerable people, such as children, have to be CRB checked.

"However some people who have been working in scouting for years have not been checked.

"I have been involved with the Scouts for over 30 years and only got my check last year.

"But by the end of this year no one will be able to volunteer or work within the organisation unless they have been checked."

Scouting Torbay Borough Commissioner, Tony Croucher, said the checks were going well and were on course to make sure everyone was checked before the end of the year.

He added: "Most people are happy to be checked, anyone who refuses a check either has a criminal record or doesn't want to help out.

"The average of those who come up clean on the checks is pretty good."

"These checks are not just to stop the wrong people working with children, but also to stop the wrong people working in accounting and management."

Although some checks are still to be done, on January 1 2009 every adult working or volunteering in scouting will have been checked.

Scouting Devon County Commissioner, Sally Yeo, said: "Some groups will require almost every parent to get a CRB check in case they want to help out in the future. Others will only require those that help out on a reasonably frequent basis to be checked.

"But from next year no-one will be able to help out at all unless they have had a check."

She added: "I would like to reassure parents that we do everything we can to make sure children are safe."

Scouting includes Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scouts Network.