CONTROVERSIAL plans to increase police checks for those in contact with children have been welcomed in Dorset despite claims the proposals are over-the-top.

A report suggest many adults are afraid to go near children and fear they are being labelled potential child abusers if asked to be the subject of Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks.

But campaigners who fought long and hard to have them introduced in the first place have hit back saying they are necessary to protect children and other vulnerable people.

The checks may be extended to cover those who host foreign students, a proposal likely to affect thousands of families in the area.

Report author Frank Furedi said: "Volunteers, once regarded as the pillars of the community, have been transformed into potential child abusers, barred from any contact with children until the database gives them the green light."

He suggests adults should be allowed to use their discretion and professional judgement to decide who should work with children.

But Margaret Morrissey, the Dorset-based spokeswoman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations said: "It may be an inconvenience to be checked but if it stops one unsuitable person working with children then it will be worth it." And Claude Knights, Director of child protection charity Kidscape added: "Having CRB checks in place is hugely beneficial and has to be applauded. We need to know that anyone who is caring for children is as safe as they can be."

Carole Kilshawe, accommodation officer at the Southbourne School of English, welcomed the idea of increased checks in principle but said the cost - around £35 per person - may put off many host families.

"If they have to pay a lot of money for checks they may decide not to bother," she said. "It is always difficult to find enough host families and this could make it worse."

A spokesman for Bournemouth council said CRB checks are not undertaken unless necessary but added: "CRB checks are undertaken in order to provide confidence in the person's suitability to undertake a role involving vulnerable individuals.

"The protection of these groups is a prime objective of the council."