Details of our latest advice for people with criminal records
The government has today confirmed that planned changes to the rules on filtering will come into effect on Saturday 28 November. After years of campaigning for change, and after many months of holding the government to account on the implementation of the changes, the news was confirmed in a letter to Unlock from the Home […]
Back in January 2019, we published an advice post, travel to the EU post-Brexit which set out our understanding of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in particular, questions relating to criminal records. The ETIAS form will ask applicants to disclose convictions relating to specific offences over the previous 10 years (20 years […]
The EU Settlement Scheme protects the rights you currently have in the UK through the process of applying for settled or pre-settled status. As part of the application process, there are questions about criminal records and checks are carried out by the Home Office. Many people with a criminal record feel nervous about applying and […]
If you’ve been convicted of a sexual offence abroad then it’s important to know that you could be made subject to notification requirements in England and Wales. The process is not always straightforward and the police will need to look at the offence that has been committed, especially where it does not exactly mirror an […]
Our helpline regularly receives contact from individuals concerned to find that a conviction they’d believed was spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is still showing on their basic DBS certificate. There are many reasons why this might be the case, but one of the things that our helpline advisors will ask is whether […]
So far approximately 750,000 people have volunteered for the NHS volunteer responder scheme which was set up to help provide support to vulnerable adults who are self-isolating. The voluntary roles available include: Community Response Patient Transport Check in and Chat The scheme is being coordinated by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS). Guidance from RVS states […]
From the outset of the recruitment process, employers will ask you to share a lot of personal data to enable them to contact you and assess your suitability for a role. It has become common practice for employers to ask prospective employees about their criminal convictions and many will also carry out formal criminal record […]
As of 1st October 2019, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will be reducing the cost of DBS checks. The new fees will be as follows: The cost of subscribing to the Update Service will continue to be £13 per year and an Adult First Check will also remain unchanged at £6. Standard and enhanced […]
Life without a bank account can be difficult, if not impossible. A bank account can offer so much more than just a place to store our money. From paying direct debits or utility bills, or receiving a salary or benefits, to simply identifying you as someone who exists, bank accounts are a huge part of […]
Think back to the last time you applied for a job. Did the application include a tick box question on criminal convictions? Last year Unlock published research showing that three quarters of national employers still ask about criminal records on application forms. This can be off-putting to applicants with convictions and we don’t think it’s […]
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