Tom Addiscott, a Church of England Reader, has just sent the following email to the church authorities who were asking for him to be CRB checked. More and more volunteers are taking this stand; if enough of us do it we will be strong enough to turn this thing around. Tom’s email reads:

‘I am sorry to be awkward but I object strongly to the CRB process, which I consider insulting and humiliating. I have no criminal record but if the parish wants to regard me as a potential child molester that is their problem. CRB was a knee-jerk reaction to the Soham murders and, while has done nothing for child safety, it has discouraged thousands of people from volunteering. As I am a signatory to the Campaign against Vetting, I regret that I can no longer take part in this disgraceful procedure.’