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Criminal Record Checks (DBS) Explained
View information about the different levels of Criminal Record Checks (DBS Checks), and understand how they may impact you.
Tools & Resources to help you live life to the fullest with a criminal conviction
Use these resources to help navigate some of the challenges you may face with a criminal conviction.
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Disclosure Calculator
Calculate when your conviction will become ‘spent’
Try the calculator -
Take Action Toolkit
A digital guide to help you challenge or appeal decisions
Explore the toolkit -
The Helpline
Get direct support and advice from the Unlock Helpline team
Visit the Helpline
Top Information & Advice articles by topic
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View all the most popular articles by Unlock from the last month
- Travelling to the US – Will I get a visa?
- Travelling to the UK
- Disclosing unspent convictions to existing insurers
- Overview of the DBS
- Information: Relationships, children and dealing with social services
- Becoming a childminder
- Information contained on UK passports
- What will be disclosed on a basic DBS check?
Coronavirus specific advice
Get information & advice specific to COVID-19
About Criminal Records
- ‘How long do I have to disclose my criminal record for?’ – A detailed guide to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- Drag-through explained
- Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill (PCSC) – What does it mean for you?
- Which cautions and convictions will be removed from a standard or enhanced DBS? – A brief guide
- Criminal records that don’t show (stay) on standard and enhanced DBS checks (filtering and protected cautions and convictions)
Employment, Business and Volunteering
Everything you need to know about gaining employment, starting or running your own business, or volunteering.
- ‘How long do I have to disclose my criminal record for?’ – A detailed guide to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- Job application tips from Unlock
- Working in the healthcare sector
- Applying for an anonymity order when bringing a claim against an employer
- ‘Do I need to disclose my criminal record?’ tool
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Insurance, Banking and Finance
Housing, and Living in the UK
The Criminal Justice System
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