Monthly summary – November 2020

Welcome to our monthly summary for November 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 we’ve made to the information hub. There are links within each update to where you can find more information.

About criminal records

• Criminal records that don’t show (stay) on standard and enhanced DBS checks (filtering and protected cautions and convictions) – Following the long awaited changes to what is disclosed on (and removed from) standard and enhanced criminal record checks, we’ve published updated guidance which explains the new rules.

Insurance

• List of insurance brokers – We’ve updated our list of insurance brokers and commercial insurers.

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 – Keep calm and volunteer – “As many of us know, getting a job with a criminal record can be hard and that was the position I found myself in several years ago. Getting those letters thanking me for my interest but telling me that my application wouldn’t be progressed was heart-breaking but even worse, were the employers that never even acknowledged them …..”

Struggles and stigma – Mistakes made by probation should be a cause of concern to all – “Several years ago, along with an accomplice, I “earned” approximately £2000 by claiming refunds for items I owned which I declared were faulty when in fact they were not – this is legally defined as fraud by false representation. I claimed for 6 items in total over a 2-week period before realising how stupid I had been …..”

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.

EU settlement scheme pre-settled status – Davy has recently received a caution for harassment without violence and wants to know whether this will affect his application for settled status. Can anybody help him?

Banned by the FA – Following a conviction earlier this year, 13TG has been banned by the Football Association from all football including coaching and playing. Have you had any similar experiences?

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.

Government announces date when planned changes to the criminal record disclosure rules will take effect

On 19 November the government confirmed that changes to the rules on filtering would come into effect on 28 November following the Supreme Court ruling in January 2019.

Unlock wins ‘outstanding national organisation’ at CJA Awards

At the end of what has been a big year at Unlock, we won the award for ‘Outstanding National Organisation’ at the Criminal Justice Alliance Awards.

A momentous day for tens of thousands of people with old and minor criminal records

On the day that changes to the law meant that tens of thousands of people would no longer have their old and minor criminal records show on standard and enhanced DBS checks, read Christopher Stacey’s blog on the changes to the rules and why there still remains a need for further reform.