Monthly summary – May 2020

Welcome to our monthly summary for May 2020.

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.

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Updates to our information site

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made to the information hub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information about the update.

Work and volunteering

• Applying for an anonymity order when bringing a claim against an employer – We’ve produced some new information on applying for an anonymity order which may enable you to keep your personal details anonymous when bringing a claim against an employer at an employment tribunal.
• Applied to the NHS volunteer responder scheme and used your DBS check as identity? – We’ve written a new advice post to highlight an issue we’d been made aware of regarding the incorrect use of DBS certificates and the way in which the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) dealt with our concerns.

Coming to (and staying) in the UK

• EU nationals coming to and staying in the UK – We’ve updated this page to include a link to a guide published by EU Representation in the UK entitled ‘Brexit – What you need to know as an EU Citizen living in the UK’.

About criminal records

• Covid-19 – Key information for people with criminal records – This page has been updated to reflect the latest restrictions now that lock-down is gradually being eased as well as details of how the National Probation Service and CRC’s are dealing with supervision appointments.

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 probation officer is never going to be my friend but I have a better understanding of her job now – “I’m under no illusion that many of you reading this will vehemently disagree with what I say. If I were reading it several years ago I would have too and, I think that’s the point I’m trying to make …..”

Success – Despite my criminal record, I’m a good Samaritan – “Just over two years ago I was convicted of an offence which means that I still have an unspent conviction. My arrest and conviction was just what I needed to make me take a long hard look at the life I was leading …..”

Views and reviews – “I didn’t think that my dad was at risk of dying when he was sent to prison” – The impact of coronavirus on people in prison – “Like most people in the UK, I totally support the government’s decision to introduce the lock-down measures as a way of reducing the spread of coronavirus. As I work in a hotel I can’t work from home but I’ve been furloughed and I’m currently getting 80% of my pay so, in many ways I’m one of the lucky ones. Except my life is being affected by coronavirus and I can’t tell anybody …..”

Discussions on our online forum

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

Moving abroad while on the SOR – Jameson202 has 3 years left on the register but would like to move abroad. Has anybody had any experience of this?

Has anyone successfully obtained a business bank account with a fraud conviction? – G.swarm is interested to know whether he’d be able to register as a sole trader with a CIFAS marker. Any thoughts on 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.

What is the impact of Covid-19 on people with criminal records?

Since the UK went into lock-down and social distancing measures were introduced, we’ve been looking at the emerging issues faced by people with criminal records. We’ve compiled a short survey to help us have a better understanding of these challenges so that we can raise the issues and call for solutions.