A simple check on Northumberland County Council’s website shows that despite all of the fuss made last month and clear explanations in the press and on the internet from more experienced Councillors, three REFORM UK Councillors have still not had their DBS checks signed off.
As most of us have seen in recent weeks with the string of violent riots from persons unknown who jumped to Nigel Farage's request to ‘take some action’ following the tragic death of Henry Nowak who was fatally stabbed by Vikrum Digwa it doesn’t take much for local folk to stop feeling safe in their own environment when that sort of activity is either sought or undertaken.
Do we know how many of those rioters were loyal members of REFORM UK? Or how many of those persons have dodged a request for a DBS check either recently or in the past, or even if any of those rioters are from Northumberland and members of Nigel’s Party?
Public Trust is a matter that is taken seriously by Northumbrians yet it looks like REFORM UK has three elected members from Northumberland who can’t be trusted.
The Leader of the Labour Group on Northumberland County Council Scott Dickinson said last month that he believed “every county councillor should be DBS checked”. He went on to say, “if you want to work with children, support vulnerable adults, or even volunteer in a school, you need a DBS check. So why should we make exceptions for those who vote on children’s services, meet one-on-one with vulnerable residents, or make decisions that impact the most at-risk people in our communities?”
His statements are what most people expect from their democratically elected member but REFORM UK Councillors, some of them at least, feel they are above servicing the needs and wants of others but unfortunately that is what you were elected to do and that is what you should do.
We have had a little problem with this article as although the Leading Conservative group members are all covered by DBS checks we couldn't find many press statements where they came out in favour. In fact in the Hexham Courant (link below)the long serving Tory Council leader Glen Sanderson came out on the side of his ultra right wing colleagues stating that he was against mandatory checks. Did he need REFORM UK’s Councillors support for some of his anti-working class policies?
It's unbelievable that a person with his experience as a Councillor should come out with a statement like that, as a ward councillor he can be asked at any time by constituents to attend an old people's home to meet the residents or open a fete or visit a school in the patch he represents and he knows that. Is he simply putting politics before the safety of people or has he given up on protecting people altogether?
Notes:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=999018836387466
https://www.scottdickinson.net/single-post/why-i-believe-county-councillors-should-be-dbs-checked
https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/politics/northumberland-labour-leader-calls-for-mandatory-dbs-checks-for-all-county-councillors-5244958
https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/25350786.county-council-faces-calls-enforce-dbs-councillor-checks/
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