Welcome to our monthly update for June 2019.

This provides a summary of:

1. thelatest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
3. discussions on our online forum
4. other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record.

Have you stumbled across this? You can receive these updates direct to your inbox every month for free by signing up to our mailing list (make sure you choose to receive ‘news for people with convictions’)

Updates to our information site

Here’s a summary of updates that we’ve made recently to theinformationhub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update. There are also links next to many of the update, which links to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions.

Work and volunteering

• Long list of spent/disposals and how long it takes them to become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 – We’ve updated this page to give examples of how a relevant order can affect other convictions.

Travelling abroad

• Identifying whether your offence is a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude – We’ve published some new information which sets out a list of the 80 most common UK offences and those which, in our opinion, would be deemed to be a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude.
• Travelling to Japan – We’ve updated this page to include an individual’s personal experience of travelling to Japan with a criminal record.

Coming to the UK

• Deportation due to a criminal record – We’ve added the details of a Court of Appeal deportation appeal case to this page where a deportee successfully resisted deportation not merely because he had a British child residing in the UK, but because of the impact his deportation would have on the child.

theRecord posts

Below are links to recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord. These are often linked to the practical information that we have, to help give some personal experiences.

Success – Volunteers Week 2019 – A shout out to Unlock’s volunteers – “Volunteer Week is celebrated between 1st and 7th June every year. It’s a week in which the UK celebrates volunteers and says thank you to them for the contribution they make. The week hopefully also raises awareness of the benefits of volunteering …..”

Struggles and stigma – What’s the point of having a policy if an employer doesn’t bother to follow it? – “A couple of years ago I applied for a job at a large organisation famous for its inclusive values. Having unspent convictions for drugs-related offences, I was nervous about applying but the organisation’s online policy on recruiting people with criminal records was clear and seemed progressive. Although applicants were asked to disclose unspent convictions on their application form, the policy said …..”

Success – The inconsistencies of travelling when you have a sexual offence – “I was convicted of a sexual offence and currently have to sign the Sex Offenders Register. I believe my conviction was harsh, but I’ve accepted it and understand that every year I’ll have to sign the register and, when I want to go abroad, I’ll have to inform the police …..”

Success – Forgiveness won’t change the past but it has improved my future – why I wasn’t added to the DBS barred list – “Prior to my conviction in 2002, I was a law-abiding citizen with an impeccable record. I’d been in the same job for 20 years and also volunteered for several charities in my spare time. Other than my work and charity interests, my only other focus was my wife and children …..”

Discussions on our online forum

Below are links to recent posts to our online forum. If you’d like to join in the discussion but are not currently a forum member, find out how you can join here.

Applying for work through a recruitment agency – DisplacedR has been having a lot of difficulties finding work through a recruitment agency due to his unspent conviction. He’s interested in hearing other people’s experience of applying for jobs with an unspent conviction. Can you help?

Things going well – Although things have been going well for Square, he’s just come up against an unexpected problem, namely disclosing his conviction to a new partner. Does anybody have any advice they can offer him?

Other news and developments

Below are links to other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. For more news, check out the news and media section of our main website.

New dates announced for criminal record disclosure training

We’ve just announced details of our upcoming disclosure training for practitioners. Find more information here.

Report backs tax breaks for employers that recruit people with convictions

Commenting on a report published by Onward, Christopher Stacey, Unlock’s co-director has said “We welcome Onwards recommendations that government should deliver on the manifesto commitment to give employers a national insurance tax break to those who recruit people with convictions. Read Chris’ comments and Onwards Unlocking a better life report.

Welcome to our monthly update for May 2019.

This provides a summary of:

1. the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
3. discussions on our online forum
4. other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record.

Have you stumbled across this? You can receive these updates direct to your inbox every month for free by signing up to our mailing list (make sure you choose to receive ‘news for people with convictions’)

Updates to our information site

Here’s a summary of updates that we’ve made recently to theinformationhub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update. There are also links next to many of the updates, which links to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions.

About criminal records

• Your right to be forgotten – We’ve written a new advice post setting out details of how you can make a request to an organisation to delete your personal data once it’s no longer necessary for them to retain it, for example once your unspent conviction is spent.

Travelling abroad

• Travelling to China – We’ve updated this page to include details of how drug offences are dealt with by the Chinese Immigration authorities.

Other areas of life

• Shotgun and firearms licences – We’ve added the results of a Freedom of Information request which highlights the number of Firearms Certificates issued by the Isle of Man Constabulary.

theRecord posts

Below are links to recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord. These are often linked to the practical information that we have, to help give some personal experiences.

Success – My caution is still showing on my check but so far it’s not held me back – “Almost ten years ago, I was in the last year of university and had received a teacher training placement to start later in the year. Not long after getting my placement, I was out one evening with my partner when we got into an argument and he ended up head-butting me in the face and knocked me to the floor …..”

Struggles and stigma – The difficulty trying to rehabilitate and reintegrate miles from home – “After serving 10 years in prison (2/3rd’s of a 15 year sentence) I was due for automatic release on a 15 month licence last month. During my entire incarceration I have maintained my innocence of the historic allegations for which I was convicted at the age of 69 …..”

Success – My life behind bars – from prisoner to bar owner – “When you’ve been in and out of prison as many times as I have (I only received short sentences), you’re always going to find it hard to find a job. When you’re 17 stone, over 6ft tall and have an arm full of tattoos – well you’re just living up to some people’s image of a criminal …..”

Discussions on our online forum

Below are links to recent posts to our online forum. If you’d like to join in the discussion but are not currently a forum member, find out how you can join here.

Friend thinking of disclosing my conviction to neighbours – AndyR was convicted of a downloading offence a year ago. A friend that has always been very supportive recently started to feel that he should disclose Andy’s conviction to neighbours and other friends. Does anybody have any advice they can offer?

New job and found out – Pb01 has just been suspended from his new job after his employer found out information about his criminal record. He’d never previously been asked any questions about his conviction. Has anybody had a similar experience?

Other news and developments

Below are links to other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. For more news, check out the news and media section of our main website.

Appointing a trustee with a criminal record: reflections of a successful applicant and charity

We’ve published a blog written by a charity working within the criminal justice system that was recently successful in getting a waiver from the Charity Commission for a trustee applicant that was “disqualified” because of their criminal record.

Bloomsbury Institute breaks new ground with ban the box for staff and students

Bloomsbury Institute in London is the first higher education provider in the UK to adopt Ban the Box principles for staff as well as students, a move that could encourage other universities to follow suit. Read more here.

Welcome to our monthly update for April 2019.

This provides a summary of:

1. the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions
2. recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord
3. discussions on our online forum
4. other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record

Have you stumbled across this? You can receive these updates direct to your inbox every month for free by signing up to our mailing list (make sure you choose to receive ‘news for people with convictions’)

Updates to our information site

Here’s a summary of updates that we’ve made recently to theInformationHub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update. There are also links next to many of the updates, which links to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions.

About criminal records

• What does an employer see when he checks your criminal record using the DBS update service? – We’ve written a new advice post to clarify what information an employer can see when they use the DBS Update Service to check your criminal record.
• GDPR and data protection – Guidance for individuals – We’ve updated the guidance to include a section on taking a case to court if you believe that an employer or other organisation has breached your information rights.

Insurance

• List of insurance brokers – We’ve updated the list to include some amended contact details and also a new broker.

theRecord posts

Below are links to recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord. These are often linked to the practical information that we have, to help give some personal experiences.

Struggles and stigma – Is it too much to expect a life without stigma following a criminal record? – “Prior to finding myself on the wrong side of the law, I was a highly skilled, tax-paying member of society. On release from prison in August 2014, I knew life was going to be hard, but I had no idea it would be this hard. The prejudice, stigma and ignorance I kind of expected, however, the lack of structure, support or framework to get skilled people back into work has been the most surprising part of the journey so far ….”

Success – Thanks Unlock for being part of my journey – Volunteering as a helpline advisor – “It was early 2018 and I was invited to attend a ‘Disclosure Workshop’ run by an organisation called Unlock. I’d never come across them before but the event looked as though it was going to cover more than just writing a disclosure statement (which it did) ….”

Success – Home sweet home – successfully appealing a Council’s decision to take a spent conviction into account – “My son Roman was aged 22 when he applied for and was accepted onto the housing register. After a year of bidding for a property, he was delighted to be offered a flat. On the day that he went to view it with a member of staff from the Council, he was asked ‘Do you have a criminal record?’ …. “

Discussions on our online forum

Below are links to recent posts to our online forum. If you’d like to join in the discussion but are not currently a forum member, find out how you can join here.

Can an employer say ‘no criminal record will be tolerated?’ – Miguel has raised concerns about employers that have blanket bans on the recruitment of people with a criminal record. We’d like to hear about your experiences with these kind of employers.

Sajid Javid – There’s been some discussion around the Home Secretary’s announcement this month that he is considering overhauling the disclosure rules around minor offences. Add your thoughts to this thread.

Other news and developments

Below are links to other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. For more news, check out the news and media section of our main website.

Westminster Hall debate on the disclosure of youth criminal records – Following the publication of the Justice Select Committee’s report on the disclosure of youth criminal records in 2017, there followed a debate on this at Westminster Hall last month. You can read or watch the debate here.

Spring 2019 Newsletter – What we’ve been up to – Our Spring 2019 newsletter provides an update on the news at Unlock in the last 3 months.

University admissions: what’s changed? – Following the decision by UCAS to remove the question about criminal convictions for all university applicants, you can read Rachel Tynan’s blog on the work we’ve been doing in supporting universities to develop fair admissions policies for applicants with previous criminal records.