Thousands of business owners and company directors could find themselves in the dock later this year if they fail to comply with the government’s controversial vetting and barring scheme.

New laws come into force in July requiring more than 9 million people, or over one third of the UK’s working population, to register so they can be checked under the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)/ Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)scheme.

“The new legislation is intended to close the kind of cracks which allowed the child killer Ian Huntley to slip through the net,” said Alan Wright FCCA of business improvement specialists Aspire Management Services.

“However, the vast majority of senior managers and business people don’t realise that they will be criminally liable if they don’t conform to the new Act and that thousands of HR departments will have to change staff recruitment and employment policies.”

The new scheme is likely to generate around £277million for the UK government by 2015 as each business will have to pay £80 for every ISA/CRB check.

“The 2004 Bichard Report following the Soham murders clearly showed the current system was reactive to harmful behaviour rather than proactive in preventing it,” said Barry Clark, a former Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police and a leading UK expert in vetting and Criminal Records Bureau checks.

“For the first time if you knowingly or unknowingly employ someone without the proper ISA/CRB checks you will be liable,” said Mr Clark.

The new rules could have a far reaching affect on firms that employ full or part time staff who have any contact with vulnerable adults or children.

“A new book, Vetting and Barring – A practical guide to the new CRB/ISA scheme, provides a useful insight into everything a business needs to know about the new legislation,” said Mr Wright.

“It covers all the important points from the impact on employers, how to register and screen employees. Anybody who wants to know where to get it can contact us at www.aspiremanagement.co.uk and we will be happy to provide details.”