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# Councillor defends CRB checks on school governors
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/councillor-defends-crb-checks-on-school-governors/
- Published: 2009-10-29T16:41:33.000Z
- Updated: 2009-10-29T16:43:19.000Z
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Education, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 21:52

![Cllr Steve Norman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/steve-norman.jpg "steve-norman")

Cllr Steve Norman

A councillor has claimed CRB checks are an “unfortunate necessity” after Lichfield’s Mayor resigned his position as a school governor after being told he required one.

Terry Thomas quit as a governor at Chadsmead Primary School over what he claimed was “wasteful red tape” – a view [echoed](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2009/10/26/lichfield-councillor-calls-for-united-front-against-government-red-tape/) by Lichfield District Councillor John Walker (Ind, Curborough).

But now a Burntwood councillor has claimed there is no alternative to the [CRB checks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal%5FRecords%5FBureau?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk).

Cllr Steve Norman (Lab, Summerfield) said:

> “It’s better to be safe than sorry on issues like child protection. Yes, it’s unfortunate that we have to go through these sort of checks, but it is the minority in society who make it an unfortunate necessity.  
>  
> “I’d love for us not to need these checks in the same way it would be lovely if we could all drive around without speed limits, but there are people in society who mean we need these sort of things in place.”

Suggestions have been made that the checks – which are currently at the discretion of the school, but are due to become compulsory – could lead to a decline in the number of people wanting to become governors.

But Cllr Norman, who is himself a school governor, does not believe that will be the case. He said:

> “I’ve not heard of any sudden shortage of people wanting to be a governor at any schools. These checks are completely confidential and are only in place for the protection of children.  
>  
> “I’ve had a number of checks because of the different areas I’m involved in and you just have to understand why they are needed.  
>  
> “I know people will have different views on why they don’t want them carried out, but parents will have a very different view.”