Monthly summary – April 2017

Welcome to our monthly summary for April 2017.

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 just 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 the updates that we’ve made recently to the 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 link to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people with convictions. 

Criminal record checks for employment

• An overview of the Disclosure and Barring Service – We’ve produced some new information giving an overview of the Disclosure and Barring Service. This includes what its responsibilities are and the options open to you if you wish to appeal something that’s been disclosed on your DBS Certificate.
• Enhanced DBS certificates – We’ve updated this page to include details of the timescales involved in producing a certificate and how to escalate your DBS application if it has been with the local police force for over 60 days.
• Enhanced DBS checks for delivery drivers – We’ve written an advice post which sets out the criteria a role would have to meet to enable an organisation to carry out an enhanced DBS check for a delivery driver job.

Work and volunteering

• Looking for friendly employers – We’ve been made aware that the Kingfisher Group (B&Q and Screwfix) have blanket bans on the recruitment of people with unspent convictions for certain types of offences. We’ve updated our list of friendly employers to reflect this.

Travel

• Travelling to Australia – As a result of changes to the Australian Immigration Act 1958 which came into effect in February 2017, we’ve updated this page and included a new section relating to travelling to Australia if you’ve been convicted of a sexual offence.
• Travelling abroad while on licence –  We’ve added some new links to this page to include a personal experience of an individual who has been able to travel abroad whilst on licence.

Other areas of life

• Compensation as a victim of crime – Following recent media stories we’ve updated this page and set out details of when a compensation award could be refused or reduced.

theRecord posts

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

Success – Building my own dreams – What I’ve learnt from becoming self-employed – ‘I knew that having a conviction was going to make finding a job difficult but I wasn’t prepared for just how difficult it would prove. I resigned from my previous job (at my employers suggestion) when news of my court appearance became public. I had a well-paid job, wife, house and a decent car; within months I had lost everything …..’

Success – Getting permission from probation to travel to my brother’s wedding whilst on licence – ‘From the day I received my custodial sentence, I was determined to turn my life around and make sure that I never went back to prison. I kept my head down all the time I was inside and upon release I’d already lined up a job volunteering for a charity who  worked with ex-offenders …..’

Struggled and stigma – I am being punished for something I haven’t done – Insurance problems for family members – ‘It was my first time in a court. My husband Mark was on trial. It was his first offence. He was pleading guilty. We didn’t know how things would go …..’

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.

I need some advice – James gtr manchester wanted some help in coping with his feelings of isolation and loneliness following his conviction. Do you have any advice you can offer him.

Compensation for criminal injuries – Frances has highlighted details of some research undertaken by Anglia Ruskin University on how people with convictions are being denied compensation if they’ve been the victim of a violent crime. Have you had any personal experience of this.

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.

Some examples of people we’ve helped

We’ve written case studies setting out examples of some of the people we’ve helped to overcome the problems they’ve faced as a result of their criminal record.

Spring 2017 Newsletter – What we’ve been up to

We’ve published our spring 2017 newsletter which provides an update of the news from Unlock over the last three months.