The Daily Telegraph reports that the number of people who have their backgrounds checked to allow them to work with children could increase significantly because companies may fear losing business to competitors if employees are not vetted.

The newspaper was reporting the comments of Sir Roger Singleton, chairman of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, which oversees the government’s anti-paedophile database — the database and vetting scheme which requires anyone working with children or other vulnerable people to undergo background checks. The programme was developed following the 2002 murders of two young girls in Soham by school caretaker Ian Huntley.

Singleton told the newspaper that the self-employed may also get vetted just to get work. “There may be some categories who don’t have to register but who might decide there is a commercial advantage in registering,” the Telegraph quoted Sir Roger as saying.

“The electrical contractor who wants school business may decide that, although he is not required to have all his electricians registered with the ISA, there is a tendering advantage to doing so.”

The paper reported that his comments raises concerns that “hundreds of thousands of workers could end up having their backgrounds checked even though there was no obvious need to do so as companies insisted that staff be vetted to reassure customers”.