Our Request
We call upon Swim England to review its safeguarding policy and require all licensed poolside technical officials officiating at events involving children and young people to hold an appropriate Enhanced DBS check as a condition of licensing.
Whilst we recognise that Swim England’s current position is based upon its interpretation of the legal definition of “regulated activity”, safeguarding should not be limited to the minimum legal threshold. National Governing Bodies have both a legal and moral responsibility to adopt safeguarding measures that reflect best practice, public confidence and the realities of their sporting environments.
Why This Matters
Swimming is one of the UK’s largest participation sports for children. Every weekend, thousands of young swimmers attend licensed competitions where they are surrounded by adults occupying positions of authority and trust.
Poolside technical officials are an essential part of our sport. They ensure competitions are fair, safe and professionally run, and thousands volunteer their time with integrity and commitment.
This petition is not a criticism of those officials.
It is about ensuring safeguarding systems are as robust as they can reasonably be.

The Current Policy Creates a Safeguarding Gap
At present, licensed technical officials are generally not required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check because Swim England considers their role not to constitute regulated activity.
However, safeguarding should always begin with a risk assessment—not simply whether legislation mandates a DBS check.

The reality of competitive swimming presents a number of safeguarding considerations:
● Officials wear recognised uniforms and carry authority, making them trusted adults in the eyes of children.
 ● Many officials officiate repeatedly across counties and regions, becoming familiar figures to young swimmers over many years.
 ● Children frequently approach officials with questions, concerns and casual conversation, naturally building familiarity and trust.
 ● Officials often work in close proximity to children throughout an entire competition day.
 ● Busy competition environments can be difficult to supervise consistently, particularly around warm-up areas, marshalling points, corridors and changing facilities.
 ● Although officials should not routinely enter changing rooms, many parents, volunteers and competitors recognise that, in practice, busy meets do not always allow policies to be enforced perfectly. Good safeguarding should acknowledge this reality rather than rely upon ideal circumstances.
None of these factors alone constitute regulated activity.
Together, however, they create an environment in which safeguarding measures should be strengthened.

Safeguarding Is About Prevention
Modern safeguarding is built upon preventing opportunities for abuse before harm occurs.
An Enhanced DBS check is not a guarantee that an individual poses no risk.
Equally, the absence of a DBS check does not imply wrongdoing.
However, DBS screening remains one of the most widely accepted safeguarding measures available to organisations working around children. It demonstrates that an organisation has taken reasonable and proportionate steps to reduce risk and promote public confidence.
Safeguarding is strongest when multiple protective measures work together.

Public Confidence Matters
Parents rightly assume that adults performing official duties around children at licensed sporting events have undergone appropriate safeguarding checks.
Many would be surprised to discover this is not currently required for poolside technical officials.
Confidence in safeguarding depends not only on legal compliance but also on transparency, consistency and public trust.
Good safeguarding protects children.
It also protects volunteers from unnecessary suspicion by ensuring everyone operates within the same clear framework.
We Therefore Ask Swim England To:
 1. Conduct an independent review of the safeguarding risks associated with licensed technical officials.
 2. Require all licensed technical officials who officiate at events involving children to obtain and maintain an appropriate Enhanced DBS check before licensing or licence renewal.
 3. Publish the safeguarding risk assessment that underpins its current policy.
 4. Review procedures governing access to changing facilities and introduce practical measures to ensure those policies are consistently implemented across all licensed competitions.
 5. Consult with safeguarding professionals, clubs, officials, parents and athletes to ensure safeguarding policies reflect both legal requirements and recognised best practice.
Our Aim

This petition is not driven by fear.
It is driven by prevention.
The overwhelming majority of swimming officials are dedicated volunteers who give countless hours to support young athletes. They deserve safeguarding policies that protect them as much as they protect children.
Safeguarding should never wait for a serious incident before being strengthened.
When a simple, proportionate measure has the potential to improve child protection, increase public confidence and align safeguarding with best practice, it should be adopted.
Children deserve more than the minimum legal standard.
They deserve the highest standard of protection that Swim England can reasonably provide.
We respectfully ask Swim England to review its policy and make Enhanced DBS checks a requirement for all licensed poolside technical officials working at competitions involving children.