IT is more than alarming that the Criminal Records Bureau is apparently so inefficient it has a backlog of 30,000 unprocessed requests for checks on job applicants.

As a result Swindon Council has no choice but to let teachers and social workers start new jobs without having seen the necessary reports on their past history. If they didn't do this the September term would start with empty classrooms and for months vital work with families would not be done. We can only pray that none of these people turns out to be a known paedophile.

If the unthinkable happens it will be the Bureau's fault.