Skip to main content
For people with criminal records
For people with criminal records

Migrated From: The Record - Posts

Getting help to have links to my name removed from an internet search engine

Paul’s life was still being seriously impacted by information about him online, some sixteen years after he’d received his conviction. With the help of solicitors, links to his name have now been removed which has had a huge impact on his life. 

 

 

Having found myself on the wrong side of the law and losing everything, a link to a newspaper article on an internet search engine was still holding me back some sixteen years after I’d received my conviction, even though it was now considered spent.

It seems surreal that in a previous life I’d been a builder of companies, and yet a few years later I was limited to zero hour contract roles in sales, only to be sacked when my employers or colleagues did internet searches on me.

After a serious accident that added to my on-going problems, necessity became the mother of invention and I started to look for work on a self-employed or consultancy basis. The agencies I worked with ‘used and abused me’ but I developed some good contacts with clients I was working with. My rates had to be low and the dreaded internet search engine link would always prove to be an issue when it came to getting decent work but I was just about surviving. However, I knew that building a really successful business was never going to happen.

Then about a year ago I came across Unlock. After hearing my story, they put me in touch with a legal firm who agreed to contact the internet search engine and make representations on my behalf. I was amazed when I found out that the search engine had agreed to remove the links to my name. There was a slight hiccup when the newspaper re-indexed its archives, which resulted in my name appearing on the internet’s search engine again, but thankfully the solicitors were on the ball and acted immediately to get the links removed once more.

The difference to my life has been amazing. Existing clients are now sticking with me and new ones have come on-board – together we’ve grown. Having the links to my name removed means so much to me. My confidence has grown enormously, going from zero hours contracts to being in the position where I’ll soon be marrying my long term partner and living in my own home.

At my lowest point just two years ago, I arrived at a place with 5 black bags and slept on a cold asbestos tiled floor. I was just pleased to have a roof over my head. Now through sheer hard work (and a bit of help from solicitors) I really feel my life is moving forwards.

By Paul (name changed to protect identity)

 

A comment from Unlock

Paul’s story shows how through Unlock and the work we’ve been doing with Carter-Ruck it’s been possible for him to get the links to his name removed from an internet search engine.

If your spent conviction is causing you problems or distress by appearing on internet search results, then it’s worth applying to the search engine to have the links removed. If your request is unsuccessful it may be possible for Carter-Ruck to consider your case.

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on our information hub page – The ‘google-effect’, internet search results and the right to be forgotten
  3. Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to the ‘google-effect’ on our online forum
  4. Policy work – Read about the work Unlock is doing on stopping the ‘google-effect’.

I was told that my historic convictions would stop me working in a prison, but is that really the case?

Like many people who’ve had personal experience of the criminal justice system, Victoria wanted to help others who found themselves in a similar situation to the one she’d been in. Sadly, she discovered that the Prison Service were more likely to consider her historic convictions rather than judge her on her skills and experience.

 

I applied for a job as a functional skills tutor working in a privately run prison. The interview went well and later in the day I received a call to confirm that I had the job. Great! Or so I thought.

I needed an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and the education department at the prison also sent me a security vetting form to complete. I have convictions from twenty and forty years ago and I knew that I would have to disclose them but as I hadn’t received any prison sentences or been barred from working with children or adults, I assumed at that stage that I wouldn’t have any problems.

I’ve done a lot of voluntary work with children,helping them with their literacy and numeracy skills and I’ve worked with people suffering from dementia and alzheimers. I thought this would increase my skills and knowledge and would improve my chances of getting into paid work.

As I read through the very long, detailed and complicated security vetting form from the prison, I thought it might save a lot of time if I spoke to the education department at the prison and tell them about my previous convictions. The lady I spoke to at the prison told me that in her experience she was 80 – 90% sure that the job offer would be revoked as a result of my convictions. I therefore decided not to put myself through the ordeal and withdrew my application.

Having had my confidence knocked, I was very anxious about applying for other jobs. Eventually I was offered a job as a tutor at a private language college. I disclosed my convictions to the manager during the interview and she was a lot more relaxed about them, especially as they were so historic. Despite getting the job, things didn’t really work out as I had expected (for a variety of reasons) and I resigned.

My experiences over the last few years have left me in a really bad place. I can’t seem to stop crying and just can’t cope with anything right now. I’ve seen my doctor and been put on anti-depressants which I’m hoping will help me.

I’ve tried so hard over the past 7 years to get a job. I’ve re-trained as a foreign language tutor and took other qualifications not thinking at the time that I would have any problems getting into this type of work.

I love teaching English as a foreign language and I’m good at it. I have the skills and abilities to be a great teacher and could have easily done the job in the prison. Unfortunately from what I’ve heard, the system doesn’t seem to want me.

By Victoria (name changed to protect identity)

 

A comment from Unlock

We’d always encourage people to apply for any job which they believe they have the necessary skills and experience to do. If you want to find out whether your criminal record will affect your chances of success, make sure that you speak to the relevant person within the organisation, for example an HR Manager. Although Victoria was told by a member of the education department that there was an 80 – 90% chance of the job offer being revoked, she may have found herself in the 10 – 20% that was successful.

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on prison vetting
  3. Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions on specific occupations and professions on our online forum.

I’ve cleared the road for future employees at my company by challenging an ineligible DBS check

Having been in his job for a year, Colin was horrified to learn that his employers were going to be carrying out an ineligible criminal record check which would have disclosed his spent conviction. Read how Colin kept his job and got his employers to change their recruitment practices.

 

I’d been working for about a year as a driver taking doctors who were working for an ‘out-of-hours’ service to their appointments when, out of the blue, I was asked to go into work early for my next shift as I had to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application form. My heart sank as I knew that if my employers did an enhanced DBS check it would disclose my spent conviction and I would almost certainly lose my job.

Like a lot of people with a conviction, I was really embarrassed and ashamed about it and my confidence had reached an all-time low. At one point, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to hold down a job such was my anxiety about the past.

I eventually mustered the courage to telephone my employer and asked in a very roundabout way whether the DBS check they were going to complete would be an enhanced one, hoping of course that they’d say ‘No’. Sadly they confirmed my worst fears – it would be enhanced.

The next time I went into work, I was asked whether I’d brought in my ID documents for the DBS check and I pretended that I’d left them at home. I was trying to buy myself more time but the HR Manager told me that if I didn’t bring them along to my next shift then I’d be unable to work.

So, the following week, off I went to complete the online DBS form with the office administrator. When we got to the section about convictions, I really didn’t know what to do but thought that honesty was the best policy and answered ‘Yes’, explaining to the administrator that my conviction was now spent. When we’d finished filling in the form the admin guy told me not to worry, that everything would be okay and to get on with my shift.

However, the next time I went into work, I was summoned to a meeting with my manager and asked to explain the spent conviction which I’d revealed whilst filling in the DBS form. I was asked about the nature of the conviction and when I refused to go into detail I was threatened with suspension. I was confused, embarrassed and unsure how to proceed but eventually I told him everything, whereupon he explained that he’d have to investigate the matter further and that I would be suspended whilst this took place.

I wasn’t a member of any union and I wasn’t sure whether I had any employment rights. Searching the internet, I came across an organisation called Unlock who, I immediately contacted for some advice. They told me that an enhanced DBS check may be ineligible for the job that I’d be doing and they explained that I could challenge this through the DBS. I sent an email off to the DBS straight away and with renewed confidence, also sent an email to my employer setting out why I thought an enhanced check was ineligible.

I heard back from my company very quickly and asked to attend a meeting with a senior manager. Although he was very understanding he maintained that my role would need an enhanced DBS check as it was often necessary for drivers to go into people’s houses to act as a chaperone. I explained that I’d never been asked to act as a chaperone but even if I had, I would always be with the doctor and never alone with the patient.

I’d clearly given the manager a lot to think about as he told me that he’d have to seek further information. When he did eventually get back to me, he told me that having sought independent advice he now appreciated that my job would only require a basic DBS check and that he was happy for me to return to work immediately.

Although I initially found it quite difficult to challenge my employer, the advice and support I was given by Unlock gave me the confidence to do it. If I hadn’t stood up for myself, I’m sure I would have lost my job which would have been yet another knock to my confidence. My employers have now changed their recruiting policy and state that they will only carry out basic checks for my type of job. I’m delighted that as a result of my challenge, future employees with spent convictions won’t have to worry about disclosing and being judged.

By Colin (name changed to protect identity)

 

A comment from Unlock

We see many examples of employers looking to conduct incorrect levels of criminal record check on their employees. This can lead to individuals having job offers revoked or even losing their job. If you believe that an employer is trying to carry out an ineligible check, we would always recommend that you challenge it through the Disclosure and Barring Service. As Colin’s story shows, successfully challenging these checks will not only benefit the individual but can make a difference to all future employees.

Useful links

Driven to suicide as a result of an enhanced DBS certificate – the problem with the disclosure of police intelligence

I head up an information and advice line for a small network of youth groups in England and Wales and often hear from young people who are facing problems as a result of the ongoing effects of their criminal record. I recently dealt with a particularly tragic case and thought that it was important to share the details.

 

Ann (not her real name) was a decent, lively young lady who always wanted to work with children. After leaving school she went to university, got her degree and set about getting herself a job. Very quickly she found something that she thought was very interesting with good prospects for promotion and which involved working with children in care.

She got the job and was told that she would need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. She was told that strictly speaking her employers should be in receipt of it before she began work but ‘because she was a woman’ she could start the following week providing she applied for her criminal record check immediately.

Several weeks later her DBS certificate arrived and on it, disclosed under the ‘additional information’ section was her Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) for a public order offence. Ann had received this whilst she was at university and on a night out with three of her fellow students. On their way home, they were all pretty merry but certainly not drunk or disorderly. As they approached the city centre they passed two men who started looking them up and down and seemed to be ‘sizing them up’. Both men were dressed in black trousers, jackets and black baseball caps and Ann had a strange feeling that they might be undercover police officers so jokingly as she walked past them, she made a pig-like noise.

Unfortunately, her instincts were absolutely right, they were indeed police officers. One of them grabbed Ann’s arm and told her that she had committed a public order offence by ‘making a pig-like noise in the vicinity of a police officer.’ They told her that if she accepted a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) and a fine she would avoid having to go to court. Believing that this was her best option, Ann accepted the PND.

Ann thought that was the end of the matter but of course as her enhanced DBS certificate was to show it most certainly was not. When she took the document to her employer, they told her that she’d acted dishonestly in not disclosing the PND and she was instantly dismissed. Ann was absolutely shattered and spent the following week shut away in her bedroom. Working with children was all she’d ever wanted to do and it seemed to Ann that as a result of a silly mistake, her dreams would come to nothing. She hadn’t been deliberately dishonest, she just hadn’t realised that this would show up on her DBS certificate.

Two weeks later she took her own life.

The coroner was aware of the full facts of the case but Ann’s parents asked that the information about her police record not be published in the press as it would bring disgrace on their deceased daughter and their ‘upstanding family’. Their wishes were respected but this means that the public will never know of the outrageous happenings that caused Ann to lose her job and in turn take her own life.

Ann died a tragic death because she made a pig-like noise. Her punishment was no mere slap on the wrist; it was a death sentence.

By Rev. Geoffrey Squire

 

A comment from Unlock

We hear from many young people who have accepted PND’s, cautions etc without having the ongoing affects fully explained to them by the police. Many don’t realise that it may have an impact on their job prospects in the future and, as we have seen from Ann’s story, have tragic consequences.

Anything disclosed by the police as ‘additional information’ needs to be deemed relevant and proportionate to the job that an applicant is applying for and since 2012, when statutory disclosure guidance was introduced we’ve seen a significant decrease in the amount of ‘additional information’ being disclosed. If you think that the police are likely to disclose additional information on an enhanced check then we would always recommend that you contact the police force involved and ask them to give you the opportunity to appeal against it’s disclosure.

Ann’s case once again demonstrates how risk averse some employers can be and don’t always take the time to properly assess an individual’s criminal record. They will often make assumptions about a person without finding out more about the circumstances surrounding a situation. We will continue to work with both employers and government to ensure that employers have fair and inclusive policies and procedures that support the recruitment of people with convictions.

 

Useful links

A clear cut career choice – training to become a barber whilst in prison

Despite receiving many convictions as a young man, it wasn’t until Terry received a 12 year sentence for armed robbery that he made the decision to turn his life around. For the first time, he was given opportunities, advice and support that he’d never been given before and is now looking forward to helping others make something of their lives.

 

 

When you start to read this I hope you don’t think that I’m one of those grumpy old men. I’m really not.

You see things were different when I was a kid. Parents today encourage their children to be anything they want to be. They sign them up for all sorts of clubs and spend time driving them here there and everywhere. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great. It wasn’t like that when I was younger. My parents made it quite clear that ‘our sort’ never amounted to much so my aspirations were quite low. My mum and dad weren’t uncaring, all my friends parents were exactly the same, we were just kids – to be seen and not heard.

Some of my mates did ok for themselves. They got jobs in factories, warehouses and on building sites but I wanted more. I just needed somebody to give me a bit of direction in my life. Sadly this came from a group of older lads who had what I wanted – a pocket full of money – who introduced me to a life of crime. It wasn’t anything serious to start with, a bit of burglary here and there but once you’re caught up in that way of life there’s no way out and the offences got more serious along with the punishments. What started off as a fine went onto become a suspended sentence until eventually I was convicted of an armed robbery and got a 12 year prison sentence.

I’d served short prison sentences before; they were a bit of an occupational hazard and despite the prison trying to put me on courses to improve my chances of getting into work, I always knew that when I was released I’d go back to my old ways. It was the only ‘job’ I knew. But that all changed when I got that 12 year stretch. My girlfriend had just had a baby and suddenly I wasn’t around to support them either financially or emotionally. Imagine knowing that your son would be starting school before you got to be a proper father to him. He’d either want nothing to do with me or he’d become a waster just like me – what a choice.

And so I made a decision. I’d try to change. I’d do the courses the prison offered me and start to plan for a future. I didn’t know whether it would include my girlfriend and son but I knew that I couldn’t carry on as I had been.

I moved prison many times and did loads of educational courses and I knew pretty quickly that I wasn’t going to be one of those guys that went into prison without an ‘O’ level and came out with a PhD. Study like this just wasn’t for me and I started to get quite disheartened until I moved to a prison up North which was set up to do a lot of practical courses – welding, carpentry, painting etc. I tried to get on the welding and carpentry courses but they were both over-subscribed with long waiting lists. Instead my Personal Officer put me on a barbering course!! What a joke. I’ve got to admit that I really threw my toys out of the pram – after all, I was an armed robber not a hairdresser!!

It didn’t matter how much fuss I made, I was on that course and that’s what I was going to be doing unless I wanted to be shipped out. So off I went on the first day to ‘hairdressing school’. The lady that ran the course, Lucy, may have looked proper girlie but let me tell you, she was something else. She wasn’t just a fantastic tutor but she took a real interest in every one of her ‘boys’. Not just what was going on in the prison but what was happening in our lives outside as well. She was firm but fair and for the first time ever I loved learning and found that I had a natural talent. I became Lucy’s star pupil and she pushed me more and more, teaching me how to do a flat top and graduated haircuts. I started to shave intricate pictures in the lads hair and whenever the barbers shop was open, I was always in demand. At last it seemed as though I’d found my calling – this was what I wanted to do when I left prison.

I was enjoying the course so much that the rest of my time in prison flew by. I knew that I wanted to be a barber when I left prison but couldn’t see anybody employing me. So I spoke to Lucy and she suggested that I think about becoming self-employed. She gave me some information about organisations that funded ex-offenders to set up a business and got me on a course in prison about self-employment. Before I’d left prison I’d written a business plan and made contact with several organisations who were willing to consider funding my new venture.

To cut a long story short, within 8 months of leaving prison I was in business. I managed to find a small shop at a very low rent and got some funding to pay six months rent in advance and buy some equipment. The shop took off really quickly and before long I needed to employ another barber. Who better than one of the guys from prison that I’d trained with. He wanted a job and I wanted somebody that I could trust. It’s worked out really well for both of us and I’m now in the process of working with our local open prison to offer a couple of guys training positions with us. There’s a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy involved but I’m determined to make it happen. Prison was the first time that anybody had taken an interest in me and given me a leg up and I’m determined to do the same for somebody else.

By Terry (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

‘Without a voice’ by Michelle Nicholson: A review

Michelle Nicholson is the founder and director of Key Changes -Unlocking Women’s Potential. We’re delighted to have been asked to review Michelle’s book, ‘Without a voice’, a brave and candid account of the events that led up to her conviction for murder.

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle was  just 22 years old when she was convicted of the murder of her father. As a single parent, rejected as a child by her schizophrenic mother she was desperate for love and happiness. This search for affection led her to become involved with a man she believed to be good and kind and someone who would give her and her daughter a better life. However, not long after meeting him, she ended up in the dock beside him at Sheffield Crown Court accused of the most horrific crime.

Michelle never denied being at the scene of the crime but stated that she had no idea that her father was going to be killed and was adamant that she played no part in his death. However, her voice went unheard and she was given a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 15 years.

From the minute she was taken into custody, Michelle protested her innocence and when she sat her parole board 14 years later, she told them the exact same story.

When I was arrested I thought the police would find evidence to prove that I was innocent. When they charged me, the most crushing thing was, how could anyone think that I could do a thing like that? I was absolutely devastated because I had lost my father then the double blow, they think I’ve done it. Before it happened I was just a single parent in a fairly poor community, just going to college and thinking about creating my own business and getting a better life for me and my daughter – then it all suddenly changed to everyone thinking that I’ve done this terrible crime. When the jury came back with the guilty verdict I was in complete and utter shock. I just couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t take it in. That shock continued for years”.

The book follows Michelle’s journey throughout her time in prison where she quickly realised how many women needed help rather than punishment through to her release and securing a job as a caseworker and going on to study for a degree in Social Science.

The book is searingly honest and Michelle doesn’t hold back when describing the details of her upbringing and the death of her father. At times, it’s an upsetting and difficult read especially when Michelle describes the social stigma facing already disadvantaged groups.

‘Without a voice’ exposes the complexities of the criminal justice system and the dramatic ongoing impact it can have on an individual’s life. I’d thoroughly recommend it to anyone with an interest in criminal justice who wants to hear about the human side of the system.

Despite running a successful charity, twenty four years on, Michelle is still fighting to clear her name.

Reviewed by Debbie

 

‘Without a voice’ is available from Amazon in both paperback and e-reader versions.

I’ve been given a new lease of life now that my name doesn’t come up on internet searches

Dave’s story shows how it is possible to get your convictions removed from internet and newspaper websites. He sets out below how he went about it.

 

Quite a few years ago, I ended up with a conviction, which was reported in the local newspapers and resulted in my name appearing on search engine results.

I totally understand that I need to pay for my mistake; however, whilst I am thoroughly ashamed of what happened I have moved on and managed to get my life back on track.

I’m now married with children and just want a second chance but I do understand that the victims of my crime may not feel the same way.

Although my conviction was spent, my name still appeared when you typed it into search engines. It really worried me and I hated the thought of the articles being available on the web. I discussed this with a few people who I trusted and most of them knew the articles existed but had never said anything to me. I’m not sure why they didn’t mention it – I believe it says a lot about the person I am today. They know the person I am now and took no notice of the historic newspaper articles.

I decided to contact the search engines and the local newspapers asking them to remove my name from the internet. When I contacted the papers and search engines I explained that:

  1. The conviction which had occurred ten years ago was firmly in the past. I now had a family and was moving on with my life.
  2. I was genuinely sorry about the mistake I had made.
  3. I would be willing to meet up with newspaper editors to talk about my conviction in person to enable them to satisfy themselves that I was genuine in my remorse.

As a result of my letters both the newspapers and the search engines agreed to remove either the article or links to my name.

I really feel that by being remorseful and sorry for my conviction and offering to meet editors, it helped to show how I had turned my life around. I don’t believe that going in heavy handed, quoting the law and relying on the fact that my conviction was spent would have gotten me anywhere.

I feel like a big dark cloud has been lifted, giving me a new lease of life.

By Dave (name changed to protect identity)

 

A comment from Unlock

Dave’s story demonstrates how you can succeed in getting links and stories removed from the internet.

By showing genuine remorse for your past actions and evidencing how you have moved on, it is possible to convince newspapers and search engine providers that your links should no longer be live. Character references from organisations or local professionals can assist in evidencing what you’ve achieved since your conviction.

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts n this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on the ‘google-effect’  – internet search results and the right to be forgotten
  3. Policy work – Read about the work Unlock is doing on stopping the ‘google-effect’ for people with spent convictions

Sacked again! – Why can’t employers see beyond my past and just give me a chance to prove I’m a different person

Starting a new job is always a stressful time, certainly until your probationary period is up. But imagine how much worse it is to be constantly looking over your shoulder, worried about people finding out about your criminal record (even if you have disclosed it to your HR department). Todd knows just how that feels. 

The day begun like every other day. After breakfast and a shower I had a pretty good 30 minute commute to work and was at my desk with plenty of time to spare.

The day was fairly uneventful until just after lunch when one of my managers tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to finish off what I was doing as he needed to have a quick word with me. I knew immediately that something was wrong – I could smell it in the air almost.

I finished what I was doing and followed my manager into the small ‘boardroom’ at the back of the building. As I walked in I could see another two senior managers sitting at the desk and I was asked to sit down. They explained to me that they’d just received my criminal record check and as a result of the information disclosed on it, they were going to have to terminate my contact. I tried to explain that I’d disclosed to the HR department at the interview and they didn’t seem to see my conviction as being a problem but my explanation fell on deaf ears. The managers weren’t interested in what I was saying, they’d already made up their minds. I was a problem they didn’t want to have to deal with.

I was asked to hand over my name badge and told that I should go and collect all my personal belongings. My manager came with me and stood over me whilst I gathered my things together and he then pretty much marched me out of the building. I could see my colleagues starting at me wondering what on earth was going on.

Over the next few days a couple of the guys from work sent me text messages and one rang to find out what had happened and make sure that I was OK. I tried explaining that I had to leave due to some personal problems but as I wasn’t able to give more details, I’m not sure whether the guy believed me or not. It was good that he’d taken the time to ring me though.

As the days pass, I start to reflect on what’s happened and reality hits. In the 5 months that I’d been with the company I’d worked so hard to prove myself. I’d always arrived early and I’d stay late when I needed to and I fitted in well with my colleagues. But my managers didn’t judge me on my work or attendance, just on my background. You see I’m a person with a conviction for a sexual offence and this employer (like others before) just can’t see beyond this.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding my conviction just makes it sound as though I’m making excuses and I really don’t want to do that. I don’t want sympathy. I know what I did was wrong, I’ve faced up to my offences and now just want to live an ordinary, quiet life.

As the weeks go by, the people that initially expressed their concern stop contacting me. I know the sort of gossip that spreads round the workplace and although I’m disappointed in my colleagues I do understand. I try to tell myself that life goes on but I’m hurting so much inside. Thoughts of self-harming surface and I start to think that I’d be better off dead. I’m not sure that I’d be brave enough to take my own life and I know that I’m just reacting to a situation. I’ve been through it before and I know that I’ll come out the other end.

So today I’ve been back to the jobcentre looking for a new job and hoping that my next employer is able to see beyond something that happened a long time ago and shouldn’t totally define who I am.

By Todd (name changed to protect identity)

 

A comment from Unlock

Getting a job with any type of conviction is difficult but can be even more so if you were convicted of a sexual offence. Employers often worry that employing somebody with a sexual offence will be brand damaging together with the effect on the workforce if they were to find out.

As part of our Fair Access to Employment project we believe that as well as changes in government policy, employers should develop more proactive and positive business practices when dealing with the recruitment of people with a criminal record irrespective of the type of offence.

 

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts n this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on disclosing criminal records to employers
  3. Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to disclosing your criminal record on our online forum

Shooting for the stars – getting a shotgun licence with a criminal record

As Bernie’s story shows, being told you can’t do something doesn’t always have to be the end of your dreams, but you’ll need plenty of resilience and often help from others. 

 

 

Even if I do say so myself, I had a rather troubled upbringing and spent a bit of time in a youth detention centre. However, by the time I’d reached my late 20’s I’d started to calm down a bit and was thinking about using my energy and enthusiasm in a positive rather than negative way.

To keep on the right side of the law, I needed to stop mixing with my usual crowd and had to find new ways of meeting people. So I started volunteering at my local game shoot every weekend as a bush-beater. This basically involved working with a group of other beaters, a gamekeeper and a shoot captain and making lots of noise by clapping, shouting, cracking sticks etc to flush the birds into a specified location.

Everybody involved was really welcoming and were more than happy to pass on their knowledge. I volunteered with people of all different ages and backgrounds and soon made new friends.

I did this for a while and, to cut a long story short, I was eventually offered the job of gamekeeper. As part of the job I needed a shotgun licence and this is where I ran into my first problem. I soon discovered that anybody who’d received a custodial sentence of between 3 months and 3 years is banned from having a shotgun licence for five years. So although I applied, I wasn’t entirely surprised when my application was refused. However, the fact that I couldn’t get a licence was seriously affecting my ability to do my job. It’s like being a gardener who isn’t allowed to use a lawn mower – get my drift?

I couldn’t let it drop. I knew that this was my future career and I had to do all I could to get that licence. Although I didn’t have a lot of money or savings, I decided to invest some in getting the help of a specialist shooting solicitor. At our very first meeting, the solicitor told me that I should be prepared to go to court to fight my corner.

So the negotiations began. I hadn’t been in trouble at that point for over 8 years but the police were still relying on my historic convictions. With money being tight, I knew that I had to do a lot of work on the case myself and I managed to get the support of 10 well respected individuals who were more than happy to vouch for me in court. The police took the decision to speak to these people prior to the court date. I’m not sure what these guys said, all I know is that the police decided that there was no need to go to court and I was issued with my shotgun licence.

I’m 52 now, still working in the same job and still have my licence.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to anybody it’s not to be put off from following your dreams. If you’ve got a good reason for wanting a licence, then you’ve got nothing to lose by appealing a decision. If you can afford it, get some help from a solicitor and be prepared to do some ‘leg-work’ yourself.

By Bernie (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts n this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on shotgun and firearms licence

Travel tips if you’re on the sex offenders register

Whether you’re looking to travel abroad for a holiday or business, having any type of conviction could potentially cause you some problems. However these may be escalated if you’re under the sexual offence notification requirements. Here Alan offers some useful tips in dealing with the more common issues you may face.

 

I’ve been subject to notification requirements for the past five years and during that time I’ve travelled extensively around the world, between 12-15 times a year. Although my experiences will be different to yours, I really hope that what I share will help you to understand a little more about the processes you’re likely to go through.

I’d like to dispel some of the myths and stop you from getting too many surprises whilst you travel.

No 1 – Informing the police of your intention to travel

Before you visit the police station, print off a summary of all the information you’ll need to provide on the travel form (in the correct order). The desk staff will then be able to complete the form very quickly – they’ll only need to copy your data into their form. Give your summary a bold heading such as ‘travel notification’ to avoid having to say anything out loud – really handy if there are other people at the front desk and you want to be discreet.

Make sure you take some ID with you.

Ask the desk staff for a photocopy of the registration form once it’s been filled in. I’ve never had a problem but it’s always good to have evidence that you’ve followed the process correctly. If there are any discrepancies on the form, check with your dedicated PPU officer – the front desk staff at the police station aren’t always aware of the latest processes.

In the section which is marked ‘optional’ always provide further information. Although you’re not legally obliged to, it always raises suspicion if you don’t.

No 2 – Travelling out of the country

Scanning your passport at check-in and/or the boarding gate doesn’t display any information to staff about your conviction.

When you’re travelling within the EU, the SIS information sharing system will usually place a marker against your passport. This hasn’t caused me any problems, however I’ve noticed some changes over the last 3-4 months and I now find that Immigration Officers in EU countries want to gather more information about my visit than they previously did. The officers are discreet but it’s still obvious that they’re asking you more questions than other people.

If you’re travelling with a group who aren’t aware of your situation, let them go through the passport check first. People behind you will see that you’re being asked more questions and this may raise suspicion.

When travelling outside of the EU, information isn’t usually shared with the country you’re visiting. An exception of this would be if your PPU officer issues an Interpol ‘Green Notice’. This may be done if they feel you’re travelling to commit an offence abroad. Depending on the country you’re visiting, you may be denied entry. You may want to check with your PPU officer whether they’ve any intention of doing this so that you can decide whether to continue the visit or not.

No 3 – Arriving back into the UK

eGates will always reject you and point you to a manned desk. This isn’t too much of a problem as people are asked to go to a desk for a variety of reasons.

If you’re travelling with somebody else and you both go to a manned desk, always let the other person go first. After your passport is scanned, an alert will appear on the UKBA officer’s screen and the officer will ask where you’ve travelled from etc. Although the questioning is discreet, the desk won’t accept other people behind you for a couple of minutes (I imagine this is the time it takes for the system to update your entry) so might raise suspicion.

No 4 – Visas

Countries which require visas (or visa waivers) are unlikely to be aware of the details of your conviction. Whether you choose to declare it or not is down to you and I’m not going to offer an opinion on this either way.

If you do declare, it’s unlikely you’ll be issued a visa within a reasonable time frame. Many countries will choose to deny a visa application completely depending on the severity of your conviction and/or the amount of time which has passed since you received it. I’ve now applied twice for a US visa and been refused both times.

I hope you’ve found my information useful and it doesn’t put you off travelling. Being aware of what will/may happen should help you to mentally prepare equip yourself.

Happy holidays.

By Alan (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts n this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on travelling abroad and sex offence notification requirements
  3. Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to sexual offences and travel on our online forum.

We want to make sure that our website is as helpful as possible.

Letting us know if you easily found what you were looking for or not enables us to continue to improve our service for you and others.

Was it easy to find what you were looking for?

Thank you for your feedback.

12.5 million people have criminal records in the UK. We need your help to help them.

Help support us now