Some local authorities are wasting public money by making schools carry out unnecessary Criminal Records Bureau checks on staff, a teaching union says.
The NASUWT says increasing numbers of local authorities are asking schools to check existing teachers' records.
It says this is a "gross over-reaction" which could cause distress to dedicated members of staff.
The Department for Education says new staff must be vetted - but schools need not make retrospective checks.
False allegations
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said the checks would cause a financial burden to schools, as each costs £34, and councils insist that schools foot the bill.
She added: "There is real potential for teachers to suffer as a result of these checks.
"Someone who has already been through the trauma of a false allegation could find that soft information is still on police files and the whole sorry problem will be dragged up again." (more)