A FAMILY-run Newport youth club lacks qualified staff who have been fully checked by the police.

A confidential council report, obtained by the Argus, says staff at the Youth Scene group in Millbrook Community Centre, Bettws, need compulsory police checks on their suitability to work with children "as a matter of urgency".

But the report also highlights that the centre is run by an "enthusiastic" and "dedicated" team "working hard to provide opportunities for young people in the area".

The report - ordered by Newport council to help them decide on a funding application to the Communities First fund - found that the volunteer club leader's grasp of child protection issues was "sketchy" and the premises "poorly maintained".

And it uncovered a string of shortcomings at the well-established club, which draws more than 20 youngsters aged between eight and 14 to its sessions.

Report author Peter Landers, of the YMCA, found:

* leader Neil Davies has a "significantly restricted" knowledge base on youth work issues;

* the three other volunteer staff - including Mr Davies' wife, Tina, and mother, Jean - are short on youth work qualifications;

* many aspects of the work are below an acceptable standard;

* there is no systematic record keeping;

* the presence of a very small child at the sessions is "inappropriate".

He added: "This group needs and deserves considerable levels of support to help it function."

Checks by the police Criminal Records Bureau involve a personality profile and a search for previous convictions.

Ian Davies, chairman of the Millbrook Community Centre, said the report was based on an evening where non-Youth Scene activities were taking place.

He said: "When I saw the report I was flabbergasted - it is completely wrong. Neil has worked on playschemes at the civic centre and has a qualification from Nash College. I have no problem at all with the group continuing to run. We hope the council will support us with a bit of money." Leader Neil Davies, a volunteer at the centre for about 25 years, said police check forms had been filled out and posted, but no replies were received.

He said: "We are having a meeting to discuss the report. We are a voluntary organisation and the council is helping us to deal with this."

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: "The systems we employ have been examined and we can confirm that no applications have been received from the group concerned either at the central Criminal Records Bureau or Gwent Police."

The youth group is set to reopen in mid September.