Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our Information Hub.

There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update on our Hub. There are also links next to many of the updates, which link to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other members of the forum.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

• ‘Is it spent yet’ poster and ROA detailed guide – It’s been almost a year since changes were made to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and we have made some minor changes to improve our ‘Is it spent?’ poster which sets out details of the rehabilitation periods since the law was changed in March 2014. We’ve also integrated these tables into our ROA detailed guide.
• Long list of sentences and when they become spent– We have produced a list of current sentences and disposals, which sets out the length of time they take to become spent. This list builds on the poster and the detailed guide (details of which are set out above). If you think there are any missing on this list, please let us know.

Specific occupations and professions

• Local councillor – We’ve produced some information setting out the criteria for becoming a Local Councillor if you have a criminal record. More information can be found here.
• Member of Parliament – As the General Election gets closer, we though it would be useful to explain how the rules about becoming an MP in terms of criminal records are less limiting to those that apply to standing for election as a local councillor. Look here for more information.

Financial issues

• How do criminal records affect your credit rating – This new information looks at how to obtain a copy of your credit report and if/how a criminal record, particularly time in prison, could indirectly affect your credit score.  Do you have any personal experiences of this? Let us know by sharing them on the Forum.

Courts and sentencing

• Capital Contribution Orders (CCO) – Following posts on our Forum from individuals who have been contacted out of the blue by ‘bailiffs’ chasing monies outstanding under a Capital Contribution Order, we have set out details of the different types of order and provided links to further information.  Post your views about this on the Forum.

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our Information Hub.

About criminal records

• Criminal Behaviour Orders – These were introduced in October 2014 replacing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and can be made following a conviction. An order is additional to the sentence given for the criminal offence. More information can be found here.  Have you received one of these orders? Discuss this on our online forum.
• Convictions obtained overseas – We have updated our information on convictions obtained overseas, which explains the system for sharing information about criminal convictions between EU Member States, non-EU countries and the UK.
• Police Certificates – In response to enquiries about Police Certificates which state ‘No Live Trace’, we have set out some brief information explaining why this may be the case and, if the Certificate is for travel purposes, what you will need to do to get supporting information.
• Basic disclosures – If you’re applying for a job at a new company and it involves a basic disclosure, you might want to be aware that a high proportion of basic applications that employers apply for go via the ‘bulk electronic’ process which is likely to mean that although the disclosure will be addressed to you, it will be sent to the employers address. This may result in the employer opening it, particularly if you have given your consent for them to do this. Other employers might simply request that you apply for the disclosure, but put their address down as the ‘care of’ address. This makes it even more important that you make sure that you find out about your criminal record before applying for specific roles, and being clear which ones are spent and which ones will come back on a basic disclosure. More information on basic disclosures here.  You can discuss this on our online forum.

The criminal justice system

• MAPPA – We often receive enquiries about disclosure of information to third parties from people who are subject to MAPPA. Details of how and when the police or probation may choose to disclose to third parties or family members can be found here.

Insurance

• We have updated our list of insurance brokers to add a couple of new brokers who can help people with unspent convictions.

Work and Volunteering

• Financial Services sector – There is often confusion around which roles within the financial services sector perform a ‘controlled function’ and would therefore be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Some brief information and contact details for the FCA can be found here.
• Volunteering – A document produced by the Institute for Volunteering Research – ‘Helping young adults with offending histories volunteer’ can be downloaded from the ‘useful resources’ section of our page on volunteering.

We’re just writing to let you know that we’ve been doing some work to the back-end of the Information Hub.

One of the main changes is in the way that you find the information that you’re looking for.

We’ve done this by creating new ‘information sections‘ on the different subjects that the site covers, instead of relying on the automated sections that were created by the site. This is based on feedback we’d received which suggested that these automated sections were confusing and hard to find all of the information about a specific subject.

As a result, we’ve created dedicated information sections – these are all available here.

From these pages, you should be able to find links to all of the information that we have available on that subject.

To help people understand how to use the site, particularly since the recent changes, we’ve updated our user guide.

We hope you think it’s an improvement – either way, let us know what you think by sending us your feedback.

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our Information Hub.

Disclosing to employers information series

• We’ve recently published an information series focusing on disclosing criminal records to employers. The series is designed to be brief and simple, summarising the key issues and providing further links to information available elsewhere on the Hub.
• In response to enquiries about self-disclosure ‘templates’ we have provided some examples of self-disclosure statements on the Hub. This is not the only way to disclose, but for those that decide this works for them, any statement you write should be tailored to a specific job vacancy and should be personal to your own situation. Have a look at our examples and hopefully they’ll give you some guidance when writing your own.

Enforced subject access

• The Ministry of Justice has recently announced that the change to the Data Protection Act which will make enforced subject access a criminal offence has been delayed. We had been expecting this to come into force on the 1st December 2014 but understand that due to technical issues it is expected to commence in early 2015. Keep checking the Hub for the latest news.

Guidance on Internet Search Results / Right to be Forgotten / Report concerns to the ICO

• On the 26th November, the Article 29 Working Party issued guidance on the interpretation of the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling on the ‘Right to be Forgotten’. The guidance, which the Information Commissioners Office was involved in producing, gives a good indication as to how the ICO will treat complaints that it deals with. We’re still looking at how this applies to people with spent convictions and are seeking cases where people have been successful in getting search results and/or online content removed. Those who have been unsuccessful should refer their case to the Information Commissioner’s Office, who have recently set up an easy to use ‘report a concern’ function on their website.

Travel to the USA

• We have published a new simple guide to travelling to the USA. This is a brief document which sets out whether you’re eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme and if not, how to apply for a visa. It should be used in conjunction with our detailed guide.

Based on feedback we’ve had since we launched the Hub just over a year ago, we’ve been working on trying to make it easier to find links to various sections of information we have on the Hub.

So today, as one of the steps towards this, we’ve published a BETA (test) ‘Disclosing to employers‘ section.

With this new section, we’re testing the idea of ‘landing pages’ for specific issues; we’re planning to develop other areas of the site in a similar way in early 2015.

Please let us know what you think to this page by completing a feedback form or providing some comments on our online forum. Does it work? Is it useful to have a summary like this? How could it be improved?

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our Information Hub.

About Criminal Records

• The ACPO Criminal Records Office have recently launched a new on-line application system for Subject Access Requests. ACRO provides subject access disclosures from the Police National Computer on behalf of most police forces in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey and the Isle of Man. To make an on-line application, visit the ACRO website.
• We have updated our information on what to be aware of if you have a ‘No Live Trace’ on a police certificates.

Applying for work

• We have made available two videos on disclosing convictions to employers. One, entitled ‘Making your past pay’ was produced in association with Staffordshire and West Midlands CRC and the second follows one man’s journey whilst looking for employment and the consequences of his choices around disclosure.

Specific occupations and professions

• We’ve received many enquiries from people looking to train as driving instructors. There seems to be conflicting advice from training providers as to who is eligible to join the Approved Driving Instructors Register and this information page provides a link to the Government eligibility wizard which details whether an individual would be eligible to join and how to apply.

The Google Effect

• We have been asking users of our Information Hub to provide us with evidence of any successes they have had in getting Google to remove search results. We have recently become aware of an individual who has had links to his spent conviction for shoplifting removed by Google. Further information can be found here.
• If your conviction is still unspent and/or a request to have search results removed by Google has been declined, you might find that your details of Google can cause you problems. You could try creating your own positive web content to try and suppress the negatives. There’s some information on ways to go about this on our Counteracting negative ‘Google’ entries page.

Travel

• Following feedback from clients we have updated our travelling to South America and travelling to Asia pages in particular, highlighting countries whose landing/entry cards do not ask about criminal convictions.

In other news….Unlock wins an award!

• We’re delighted to announce that at the recent 2014 Helpline Partnership Conference, Unlock was awarded first prize in the ‘Best innovative use of technology’ category. This was, in part, because of our Information Hub. Explaining the reason for the award, the judges commented “The combination of offline and on-line technology bring together an accessible and impressive support package.” Read more about the award here.

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our Information Hub.

Travelling and working abroad

• There’s some new information about travelling to Mexico on holiday. Generally, entry is via a Tourist Card which does not ask questions about criminal records.
• Following several enquires to our Helpline, we have published a document on working overseas. This provides a link to the entry requirements of various different countries around the world. It also highlights the role of an International Child Protection Certificate, which may be required for some roles overseas.

Specific occupations and professions

• Anybody wishing to sell articles in the street or from a vehicle, kiosk or moveable stall will now require a Street Trading Licence, and the application process will usually ask about unspent convicions. Details of the application process can be found here.

Money

• State retirement pensions are suspended if you receive a custodial sentence. This document looks at how your pension entitlement may be affected and what to do if you believe there are gaps in your National Insurance Contributions.

Community resolution orders

• We have become aware that more police forces are using Community Resolution Orders when dealing with first time offenders committing minor offences or anti-social behaviour. Further information regarding the impact of receiving a Community Resolution Order can be found here.

Mental health

• People with convictions can often feel unhappy, depressed, stressed or anxious. How we feel about ourselves can have an impact on  the way we behave and how we cope with the worries of everyday life and the tougher times that we sometimes face. To help, we have put together a list of useful links, ranging from simple ‘self-help’ ideas to professional and voluntary services, to maintain a positive state of mind and to help you take back control of your life.

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our Information Hub.

Changes to the structure on the Hub – new ‘Advice’ section

• We are continually looking at ways of improving the Hub to make the information more accessible. As part of this, we’ve created a new ‘advice’ section – this shares some of the common areas that people with convictions to us looking for our advice about. The advice we give is based on what we’ve learnt as an organisation when dealing with these issues, and the experiences of other people with convictions.
• We’ve also got a new downloads section where you will find all Unlock materials which are available to download as PDF’s.

Going on a game show with a criminal record

• Following some enquiries to our Helpline, we have published a document on getting on a game show with a criminal record. This looks at the questions you are likely to be asked by television production companies and the possible consequences of appearing on TV.

Ways to find out about your criminal record

• There’s some information on how DBS Adult First Checks are used, who can apply for them and what the outcome of a check will mean to an applicant.

Police records

• We’ve published information about how the collection and retention of intimate and non-intimate DNA samples are regulated plus how police forces in England and Wales have been collecting DNA samples from 12,000 serious offenders who are not on the national DNA database as part of Operation Nutmeg.

Specific occupations and professions

• The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 came into force on 1st October 2013 and requires all scrap metal dealers to undergo basic criminal record checks in order to trade. Further information relating to the legislation can be found here.

Money

• You can no longer apply for a crisis loan if you live in England, Wales or Scotland. We’ve published some information on changes to crisis loans and short term payments available from Jobcentre Plus which provides details of the application process and eligibility criteria for hardship payments, short term advances and budgeting loans.

Applying for work

• We’ve added a video in our support getting into work section produced by Inside Job Productions in partnership with one of the Work Programme providers which features ‘Rory’ and his story.