Details of our latest advice for people with criminal records
Unless you’ve travelled abroad and needed a police certificate or applied for a subject access request (SAR) to help get a better understanding of your criminal record, you may never have come across ACRO Criminal Records Office (ACRO). They have just published their annual report for 2016/17 showing an annual income of almost £13 million and […]
The majority of our information around disclosing to an employer assumes that you will be declaring a criminal record for which you have accepted some guilt. And as a charity, Unlock focuses on supporting people who have accepted responsibility for their actions and are now looking to move forward with their life. But, how do […]
If you’re not asked about your criminal record then, legally, you don’t need to disclose any unspent convictions, but in our opinion, withholding this information means that your advisor may not be able to provide you with the best information, advice or service. So, are there any other benefits in choosing to disclose? The role […]
Any organisation can apply for a basic criminal record check on members of their staff which will disclose unspent cautions/convictions. However, there are some jobs which would require you to disclose spent convictions. Many people are aware that if they’re applying for a job which involves working with children or vulnerable adults, then they’ll need to disclose […]
Last month The Independent published an article highlighting how rape victims with criminal records for minor offences were being regularly denied compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The article explained how compensation for rape committed by one attacker is set at £11,000. However, if the victim has an unspent conviction for, say, failing to pay […]
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had several enquiries from delivery drivers who’ve been asked by their employers to agree to an enhanced DBS check because they will be delivering to schools/care homes. The reasons often given by the employer for these types of check is that drivers will be delivering on a regular […]
Over the course of the next 12 months the Disclosure and Barring Service are planning to introduce several changes that might be important to people with convictions. Basic criminal record checks From autumn 2017, you will be able to apply to the DBS for a basic criminal record check if you live or work in England […]
Our helpline often receives calls from individuals who, as part of their work, are required to go into schools or care homes (for example plumbers and electricians). Many employers will insist that you have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with a check of the barred list because of the type of establishment that […]
We were pleased to hear the Justice Secretary, Sam Gyimah, announce yesterday that thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of sexual offences which have now been abolished (decriminalised) have been posthumously pardoned. This pardoning has become known as ‘Turings Law’ after Alan Turing, a World-War Two code breaker often referred to as ‘the father […]
Our helpline often receives calls from people who have received driving convictions and are confused about when this will become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Some of the more serious driving offences could result in your licence being revoked (i.e. you are banned from driving) and even a prison sentence. However, in addition […]
Thanks for joining over 333,000 people who've used this site in the last three months alone. We hope you find what you're looking for.
As an independent charity, we rely on your donations to run and maintain this site.
Please help us to keep it going by making a donation now.
Thank you.