Child safety measure is a 'blunt instrument'.

THE Government's new vetting scheme was branded a "blunt instrument" by a senior police officer last night.

Sir Hugh Orde said measures aimed at protecting children from predatory adults may be a "sledgehammer to crack a nut ".

He warned that the huge scheme would be expensive and loopholes would remain as some criminal suspects would not be picked up.

Speaking at a police conference near Kenilworth, the former Northern Ireland police chief said he understood why some people were unhappy with having their backgrounds checked.

He said: "It is a blunt instrument and I utterly understand why some people do not feel they should be subject to a check simply because they want to volunteer to work with young people.

"Many people see it as a step too far and the question is 'Is it a sledgehammer to crack a nut?' Is there another way we could be doing this? The new president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) was speaking after he outlined his new role to superintendents from across England and Wales.