Find out the latest updates to hub.unlock.org.uk
As part of our Fair Access to Employment project we’re looking for examples of employers who have carried out inappropriate levels of criminal record checks. We’re gathering this information to feed into our legal strategy which aims to put an end to unlawful criminal record checks. We’re especially keen to hear from anyone who believes […]
On the 30 January 2019, the Supreme Court directed the government to fix the broken Disclosure and Barring Service system. The Supreme Court ruled that two aspects of the filtering regime – as it applied to multiple convictions and childhood cautions – was disproportionate and in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on […]
Welcome to our monthly summary for June 2020. This provides a summary of: the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord discussions on our online forum other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. Have you stumbled […]
As the UK went into lock-down in March 2020, Unlock came to the end of another financial year. In the year April 2019 to March 2020, our helpline was contacted by 7,803 people, 87% of whom had a criminal record. Our information hub was visited by 1,132,371 and 45,761 people used our disclosure calculator. Have […]
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 […]
We’re excited to announce two new job vacancies. We’re looking for ambitious, creative and determined individuals to join our small staff team to become our first Digital and communications manager and our first Policy officer. A summary of the roles can be found below, with links to a recruitment pack for each. To apply for […]
Welcome to our monthly summary for May 2020. This provides a summary of: the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord discussions on our online forum other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. Have you stumbled […]
In many cases, somebody who has been wrongly or unfairly treated by their employer can make a claim at an employment tribunal where a Tribunal Panel will make a decision on what settlement, if any, you should receive. However, since 2017 employment tribunal decisions have been published online which means that the names of anyone […]
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 […]
Welcome to our monthly summary for April 2020. This provides a summary of: the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord discussions on our online forum other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. Have you stumbled […]
Covid-19 and the social distancing measures introduced to help control it are creating challenges for all of us. For people with criminal records, these challenges can be particularly difficult to overcome. Since the UK went into lock-down, we’ve been contacted by many people with criminal records – those with criminal records in the community, people […]
Changes to the DBS filtering rules -
Will you still need to disclose your criminal record?
Read our response to the government's plans, and find out more about the impact of these changes will have on you. There's also a brief guide available to download.