Monthly update – September 2015

Welcome to our monthly update for September 2015.

This update 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. other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record

Information updates

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our information site. There are links to where you can find more information about each update. There are also links next to many of the updates to threads on our online forum where you can discuss these with other people that have a criminal record.

Filtering process brought in for Scotland

The Scottish Government announced details of a process of ‘filtering’ starting on 10th September 2015 that will apply to Standard and Enhanced criminal record checks issued by Disclosure Scotland. Although this doesn’t directly impact on people in England & Wales, we’ve posted an update with links to more information.

Insurance

Disclosing unspent convictions to existing insurers – If you have an unspent conviction, it’s important to consider what you need to do if you have an existing insurance policy. We’ve produced some new information which may be useful if you’ve just received a conviction or you failed to disclose your unspent conviction when you were asked when you took out the original policy.

How can insurers find out about my criminal record? – Our Helpline often receives queries from individuals concerned about how insurance companies can find out about criminal convictions. We have provided some further clarification which can be found here.

Travel to Asia

We have updated our information on travel to India and Japan.

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.

Successes – 59 convictions and only just going to prison!!! – I have a long criminal record (59 convictions under the Street Offences Act) and have experienced many barriers into employment. I was refused OFSTED registration due to my spent convictions when I wanted to become a child care practitioner and had to appeal OFSTED’s decision in a Care Standards Tribunal. I won the decision of the panel with no legal support whilst my opponents had a Treasury barrister at their disposal.

Successes – Volunteering – Helping me to live life at last – I wanted to write about my recent experience of volunteering. Although it was at Unlock, I think my experience is equally valuable to anybody who is looking for work and feeling despondent about the future. Volunteering was the start to a brighter phase of my new life.

Have you got a story or experience that could be posted on theRecord. Get in touch.

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.

Job Vacancy @ Unlock – Information and Case Officer

We’re currently looking for an outstanding individual who has a criminal record and is passionate about providing information, advice and support to people with convictions who are trying to overcome the effects of their criminal record. Closing date is the 12th October. For more information about the vacancy, see here.

Unlock joins the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group

We’re pleased to announce that Christopher Stacey has been invited to join the group known as RR3 which is effectively a partnership between the voluntary sector and the Ministry of Justice. Find out more about the group here.

Google Effect

In an interesting development to the issue of the ‘google-effect’ and spent convictions, the Guardian has reported that Google has been ordered by the Information Commissioner’s Office to remove nine links to current news stories about older reports which themselves were removed from search results under the ‘right to be forgotten’ ruling.