Schools Protest
A number of high-profile authors are to stop visiting schools in a protest against new laws that require them to be vetted to work with youngsters.
Leading author Philip Pullman, whoes works include the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, was quoted as saying the idea was ludicrous and insulting.
Other authors and former children's laureates Anne Fine, Michael Morpugo and illustrator Quentin Blake have slammed the scheme which costs £64 per person.
Meanwhile the Home Office says the change from October will help protect children, the new laws were drafted in response to recommendations made by the inquiry into the deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, at the hands of school caretaker Ian Huntley.
Anyone who has "more than a tiny amount" of contact with children or vulnerable adults will have to sign up to the Vetting and Barring Scheme before November 2010.
But the authors, including fantasy writer Mr Pullman, say they have worked in schools for years without ever being left alone with children.
Talking in the Independent Pullman said "Children have never been in any danger from visiting authors or illustrators, and the idea that they should be is preposterous."
In the same newspaper Anthony Horowitz - author of the Alex Rider series wrote in a comment article, "In essence, I'm being asked to pay £64 to prove that I am not a paedophile.
"After 30 years writing books, visiting schools, hospitals, prisons, spreading an enthusiasm for culture and literacy, I find this incredibly insulting."
He added that the database "poisons the special relationship that exists between children and authors they admire".
Anyone who is barred will go on a separate register and could face up to five years in prison if they try to get work in a job covered by the regulations.
Anne Fine, author of more than 50 books including the Killer Cat series, also told the Independent the rules would leave children "further impoverished" and that she would only visit foreign schools in future.
"The whole idea of vetting any adult who visits many schools, but each only for a day, and then always in the presence of other adults, is deeply offensive," she added.
However, a Home Office spokesman said: "The UK already has one of the most advanced systems in the world for carrying out checks on all those who work in positions of trust with children and vulnerable adults. "From October this year the new Vetting and Barring Scheme will ensure these regulations are even more rigorous."
Yet for all these advanced systems they still fail to protect the vulnerable, instead they become just another tool for the government snooping.
The new regulations will mean that more than five million more jobs and voluntary posts - including most NHS positions - will be subject to checks.