Protecting children is important, but Claire Fox wonders whether the nanny state really has arrived when kids are not allowed to cuddle and fathers are forced to prove they are safe to be around children A head teacher in Cornwall has banned students from hugging. Hurrah for local councillor Kath Pascoe, who denounced the ban as 'ridiculous' and her fellow councillor Chris Thomas, who noted: 'When we start taking human contact out of life, it is a sad day for civilisation.' Well, expect a lot more sad days. This is more than just a stupid story, it is a warning about what happens when child protection mania dominates public institutions. Steven Kenning, the anti-hugging headmaster of Callington Community College, justified the ban in familiar terms: 'We were worried it might become inappropriate. So we nipped it in the bud.' Mr Kenning was simply following the logic of 'better safe than sorry'. Fear that the most innocent of activities may now be viewed as 'inappropriate' is such that institutions are becoming increasingly defensive. Last year, the Independent Football Commission issued a warning to club mascots - usually adults in funny animal costumes - that their actions might be misinterpreted, 'especially when they are posing for photographs with children or when asked... to hold children or take them on their knee'. Sadly, there are many examples of caring adults - many working for local authorities - shying away from inappropriate contact with children. Often, such advice is less about protecting children than protecting professionals from accusations. The child protection section of the National Care Standards states: 'It is important that staff avoid putting themselves in a situation that may lead to allegations being made against them.' Even Esther Rantzen, child protection guru and founder of Childline, admits there has been 'daft, over-zealousness'. The consequences can be tragic. Recently, an inquest into the death of a two-year-old heard how a bricklayer drove past the infant as she walked alone through her village. He did not stop, because he feared people would think he was trying to abduct her. 'I kept thinking, "Should I go back?" he said'.' He didn't. Minutes later, the little girl drowned in a garden pool. This should remind us that children's welfare really depends on all adults looking out for kids, whether it is helping a child who is distraught, babysitting for a neighbour, or volunteering to help at the local youth club. But even these vital tasks are now to be treated with suspicion - this time by the Government. Parliament has nodded through a Draconian law that will make employers and voluntary groups vet one-third of the adult population, 9.5 million people 'whose work offers opportunity for regular contact or places them in a position of trust in relation to children'. This law, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill, is just as crazy as banning hugging, but there has been little opposition from local authorities. I recommend that every The MJ reader read the Manifesto Club's The case against vetting report, which brilliantly exposes the legislation's counter-productive consequences (www. manifestoclub.com). For example, Scottish Borders Council has cancelled foreign exchange visits for local youngsters because it had no way of vetting the French, Italian and Spanish host families. The report shows how the Bill could destroy community initiatives. Decent, public-spirited people will be forced to submit to time-consuming and humiliating criminal checks or give up volunteering. The father who offers to lead the walking bus, coach his son's football team or help at the school disco, will have to present three forms of identification, pay £36 - each time - wait weeks for official clearance, have his details stored on a database and be subject to 'ongoing monitoring'. How will volunteering and community spirit survive if only state-sanctioned individuals are deemed suitable to look after children? Jim Campbell, mayor of Oxford, says in the report: 'The important informal ways in which people relate are going to disappear. Everything will be done under contract.' Mr Campbell is a signatory to the Manifesto Club's petition against the Bill, along with children's TV presenter Johnny Ball, novelist Fay Weldon, the Scottish Parent Teachers Association and hundreds of others (including me). I urge you all to sign before the panic about child protection makes adults too scared to care for children as they should. Claire Fox is director of the Institute of Ideas
