Child Safeguarding Laws for Sports Camps: A European Comparison
Last updated: 2026-03-23
Child safeguarding is the regulatory area where European countries show the strongest consensus: every nation on this list requires criminal-background checks for adults working with children, and most have additional requirements around safeguarding policies, designated officers, and mandatory reporting. But the details — which document, who requests it, how often it must be renewed — differ significantly.
Background Checks by Country
| Country | Check Name | Who Requests It | Renewal | Covers Sex Offences Specifically |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | DBS Enhanced (England/Wales) / PVG (Scotland) / Access NI | Employer via registered body | Continuous (Update Service) or per role | Yes (barred-list check) |
| France | Bulletin n°3 du casier judiciaire (B3) | DRAJES/SDJES automatically | Per declaration | Yes (FIJAIS register) |
| Spain | Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual | Employer | Periodic (varies by region) | Yes (dedicated sex-offence certificate) |
| Germany | Erweitertes Führungszeugnis | Employer or organisation | Every 5 years (recommended) | Yes (extended certificate covers §§ 171-184j StGB) |
| Italy | Casellario giudiziale + carichi pendenti | Employer | Per engagement | Yes (D.Lgs. 39/2014) |
| Netherlands | VOG (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag) | Employer via Justis | Per role (valid for specific purpose) | Yes (screened against role profile) |
| Portugal | Certificado de registo criminal | Employer | Per engagement | Yes (Lei 113/2009) |
| Denmark | Børneattest | Employer (mandatory) | Per engagement | Yes (only covers sexual offences against children) |
| Sweden | Registerutdrag (police register extract) | Individual provides to employer | Per engagement | Yes (Lag 2013:852) |
| Norway | Politiattest – barneomsorgsattest | Employer requests via police | Per engagement | Yes (specific child-care certificate) |
| Finland | Rikosrekisteriote (Laki 504/2002) | Employer | Per engagement | Yes |
| Poland | Zaświadczenie o niekaralności + Rejestr Sprawców Przestępstw na Tle Seksualnym | Employer | Per engagement | Yes (dedicated sex-offender registry check) |
| Czech Republic | Výpis z Rejstříku trestů | Employer or individual | Per engagement | Includes all convictions |
| Austria | Strafregisterbescheinigung (Sonderfassung for child work) | Employer | Per engagement | Yes (§ 10 Tilgungsgesetz extension) |
| Switzerland | Sonderprivatauszug (special private extract) | Employer | Per engagement | Yes (includes professional & activity bans) |
| Belgium | Uittreksel strafregister model 2 | Employer | Per engagement | Yes (model 2 specific to child-contact roles) |
| Ireland | Garda Vetting (via NVB) | Employer via registered organisation | Per role (re-vetting recommended every 3 years) | Yes (specified information + soft info disclosure) |
| Greece | Αντίγραφο Ποινικού Μητρώου (criminal record copy) | Employer | Per engagement | Includes all convictions |
Designated Safeguarding Officers
A growing number of countries require or strongly recommend that any organisation running youth activities appoint a designated safeguarding lead. This person is responsible for receiving concerns, liaising with authorities, and ensuring staff training is current.
- UK — mandatory for all regulated activities; specific training courses (e.g. NSPCC Level 3) expected.
- Ireland — mandatory under Children First Act 2015; a "Designated Liaison Person" must be appointed.
- France — the directeur of an ACM acts as the safeguarding lead by default.
- Germany — SGB VIII §72a requires a "Kinderschutzbeauftragte(r)" in publicly funded youth work.
- Elsewhere — increasingly recommended by sport federations even where not legally required.
Mandatory Reporting
In some countries (France, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland), professionals working with children have a legal duty to report suspected abuse or neglect to the competent authority. Failure to report can itself be a criminal offence. In others (UK, Germany, Netherlands), reporting is strongly encouraged but imposed only on specific roles.
Recommendations for Camp Organisers
- Obtain background checks for all adults with unsupervised access to children — including volunteers, not just paid staff.
- Appoint a safeguarding lead and ensure they receive role-specific training.
- Write and publish a child-protection policy, even if not legally required — it builds trust with parents.
- Establish clear reporting procedures and ensure all staff know how to escalate a concern.
- Keep records of all checks, training dates, and incident reports for auditing.
Return to the master guide for the full picture, or browse sports camps on TopSportsCamps.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the relevant national authority.