Revised Police Vetting procedures are being implemented.

Following a recent review of our Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) policy and procedures, the Board of Trustees has agreed on some changes to our Police Vetting requirements for all trips involving overnight stays.

As a board, we must be comfortable that risk is minimised, isolated or eliminated and accordingly, from now on, we must police vet any adult volunteering to assist with an event that has an 'overnight stay' component.

So what? Now what?

I will give you a few police vetting facts and provide you with a link providing us with consent to vet you (should you so wish). CONSENT FORM

If you are hoping to attend a Noho visit, or an overnight camp if it comes up this year, then you might like to get in with a consent form now. (although this does not guarantee a place as a volunteer)

Police vetting facts:

• All teachers are Police Vetted as part of their compulsory triennial teacher registration renewal
• All employees of school's must be Police Vetted every 3 years.
• A school can’t share a police vet and can’t accept police vetting information from other agencies to meet their requirements.
• Schools have to be given written permission to Police Vet a volunteer (There's a form!)
• Police Vet material is confidential. Only the principal is provided with the police vet report.
• Having a 'history' may not automatically mean that you cannot be a volunteer -e.g minor historical offences. 

The New Zealand Police may release any information they hold if relevant to the purpose of this vetting request. This includes:

• Conviction history and infringement/demerit reports
• Active charges and warrants to arrest
• Charges that did not result in a conviction including those that were acquitted, discharged without conviction, diverted, or withdrawn
• Any interaction you have had with New Zealand Police considered relevant to the role being vetted, including investigations that did not result in prosecution
• Information regarding family violence where you were the victim, offender or witness to an incident or offence, primarily in cases where the role being vetted takes place in a home environment where exposure to physical or verbal violence could place vulnerable persons at emotional or physical risk.
• Information subject to name suppression where that information is necessary to the purpose of the vet

If you are eligible under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004, your conviction history will not be released unless:

• Section 19(3) of the Clean Slate Act applies to the vetting request (exception to the Clean Slate regime)
• Section 31(3) of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 applies to the vetting request (safety checks of core children’s workers)