LilMtnCbn
06-24-2004, 08:43 AM
http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.503402.0.foste
r_mum_angry_over_convictions_blunder.php
Foster mum angry over convictions blunder
By Kerry McQueeney
Pauletta Brown has been a foster carer in Croydon for nine years and has a
respectable job with the court service but according to the Criminal Records
Bureau she's a serial shoplifter working under a host of aliases.
Now Pauletta fears a CRB mix-up could jeopardise her role as a foster mum as
well as her job after a routine check revealed she has 14 convictions for
crimes she never committed.
The 42-year-old court clerk, known as Polly, has discovered her offences belong
to someone of a similar name with the same date and place of birth.
However, the CRB says the only way she can clear her name is by having her
fingerprints taken.
Pauletta, of Lower Addiscombe Road, said: "Why should I be the one to rectify
their mistake? The onus should be on them, not me. I feel like a criminal,
being told I have to provide fingerprints. I've done nothing wrong.
"Besides, if human error has resulted in my name being linked to the wrong
person, who's to say my fingerprints won't end up being matched with someone
else?"
The mum-of-three's ordeal began when she and her mother, who jointly care for
two foster children along with Pauletta's own daughter, underwent their annual
checks with the CRB in April.
While her mother's record was clear, Pauletta was stunned when told two months
later she had acquired 14 convictions.
She added: "I work for the court service and was able to check the computer
system to see that a person with a similar name and same date of birth was
convicted of those offences last year.
"My surname is one of the most common in this country and hers is
double-barrelled. My birthplace is London, but I've been told by the CRB this
information is a close enough' match for them."
Pauletta, who is adopting one of her foster children, says she is seeking legal
advice over the blunder.
"I've lost so much sleep. The agency with whom I foster could easily take the
children away if they thought I was a criminal and you're not allowed to work
for the court service if you have a record," she said.
"This agency is supposed to protect the innocent, and we wonder how the Ian
Huntleys of this country are allowed to gain employment if they can't even
match a name, date and place of birth correctly."
A CRB spokesman said errors like this were "regrettable" but rare, adding: "If
she wants to get this resolved as soon as possible she must comply with our
established procedures and have her finger prints taken."
A Croydon Council spokesman said: "The CRB check is only one of many checks
that have to be made during the adoption process and this has not halted her
application.
"Pauletta is already working closely with her social services' link worker and
we will continue to provide her with as much support as she needs while she
resolves this situation."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
r_mum_angry_over_convictions_blunder.php
Foster mum angry over convictions blunder
By Kerry McQueeney
Pauletta Brown has been a foster carer in Croydon for nine years and has a
respectable job with the court service but according to the Criminal Records
Bureau she's a serial shoplifter working under a host of aliases.
Now Pauletta fears a CRB mix-up could jeopardise her role as a foster mum as
well as her job after a routine check revealed she has 14 convictions for
crimes she never committed.
The 42-year-old court clerk, known as Polly, has discovered her offences belong
to someone of a similar name with the same date and place of birth.
However, the CRB says the only way she can clear her name is by having her
fingerprints taken.
Pauletta, of Lower Addiscombe Road, said: "Why should I be the one to rectify
their mistake? The onus should be on them, not me. I feel like a criminal,
being told I have to provide fingerprints. I've done nothing wrong.
"Besides, if human error has resulted in my name being linked to the wrong
person, who's to say my fingerprints won't end up being matched with someone
else?"
The mum-of-three's ordeal began when she and her mother, who jointly care for
two foster children along with Pauletta's own daughter, underwent their annual
checks with the CRB in April.
While her mother's record was clear, Pauletta was stunned when told two months
later she had acquired 14 convictions.
She added: "I work for the court service and was able to check the computer
system to see that a person with a similar name and same date of birth was
convicted of those offences last year.
"My surname is one of the most common in this country and hers is
double-barrelled. My birthplace is London, but I've been told by the CRB this
information is a close enough' match for them."
Pauletta, who is adopting one of her foster children, says she is seeking legal
advice over the blunder.
"I've lost so much sleep. The agency with whom I foster could easily take the
children away if they thought I was a criminal and you're not allowed to work
for the court service if you have a record," she said.
"This agency is supposed to protect the innocent, and we wonder how the Ian
Huntleys of this country are allowed to gain employment if they can't even
match a name, date and place of birth correctly."
A CRB spokesman said errors like this were "regrettable" but rare, adding: "If
she wants to get this resolved as soon as possible she must comply with our
established procedures and have her finger prints taken."
A Croydon Council spokesman said: "The CRB check is only one of many checks
that have to be made during the adoption process and this has not halted her
application.
"Pauletta is already working closely with her social services' link worker and
we will continue to provide her with as much support as she needs while she
resolves this situation."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
