We produce and submit written responses to proposals and consultations from policy makers and legislatures on issues which affect people with criminal records.
By providing responses and submissions to decision makers, we strengthen the voice of people with convictions and highlight the problems that they face as a result of their criminal record. In particular, we often include the voices of those that might not have the capacity to submit their own response. We regularly encourage individuals the submit their own responses too so that a broad range of perpsectives are covered.
When preparing our responses, we consult and collect evidence. Sign up to our mailing list or follow us on twitter to learn about opportunities to get involved as and when they arise.
Read our responses below
View all publications- February 2023 Professional Standards Authority consultation on criminal record checks – Unlock response Feb ’23
- February 2023 Commission on the future of employment support – Unlock response Jan 2023
- January 2023 Regulating equality of opportunity in English higher education- Unlock response Nov ’22
- October 2022 Bill of Rights Bill legislative scrutiny by the JCHR – Unlock response Oct 2022
- October 2022 ‘New consequences for drug possession’ – Unlock response Oct 2022
- August 2022 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review – Unlock response
- March 2022 ‘Delivering Justice for Victims’ – Unlock response Feb 2022
- February 2022 Prisons Strategy White Paper – Unlock Response Feb 2022
- December 2020 Response – Ministry of Justice sentencing white paper
- September 2020 College of Policing consultation – Code of Practice for the Law Enforcement Data Service (September 2020) – LEDS
- February 2020 Response – ICO survey – Processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions
- April 2019 Response – Department for Transport consultation – Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing: protecting users
- September 2018 Response to Ministry of Justice consultation – Strengthening probation, building confidence
- August 2018 Written submission to the government’s call for evidence on supporting people with convictions into employment
- April 2018 Unlock submission – Call for views – Management of Offenders Bill (April 2018) – Scotland
- March 2018 Unlock and SCYJ joint letter to Justice Committee on Government’s response to report on the disclosure of youth criminal records
- March 2018 Written submission to the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry into modernising the Disclosure and Barring Service
- December 2017 Written submission to the DCLG consultation on disqualification criteria for Councillors and Mayors
- December 2017 Written submission to the Government consultation on behalf of the Office for Students
- December 2017 Written submission to the DCLG consultation on the homelessness code of guidance for local authorities
- November 2017 Written submission to the HMI probation consultation on standards and ratings for inspecting probation services
- November 2017 Written submission to the Scottish Government consultation on criminal records and the Remedial Order 2018
- May 2017 Written submission to the call for views on the General Data Protection Regulation derogations
- April 2017 Follow up written evidence to the Justice Committee inquiry into the disclosure of youth criminal records
- November 2016 Submission – Written response to the Justice Committee inquiry into the disclosure of youth criminal records
- September 2016 Support for ex-offenders inquiry – Results and analysis of our survey
- September 2016 Submission – Written evidence to House of Lords Select Committee on Financial Exclusion
- August 2016 Submission – Response to Charity Commission consultation on power to disqualify from acting as a trustee
- July 2016 Submission – Response to Government consultation on childcare disqualification
- June 2016 Submission to the Lammy Review
- May 2016 Review of Youth Justice – Unlock submission
- April 2016 Support for ex-offenders inquiry – Unlock response
- December 2015 Expectations for Police Custody – Consultation on revised draft – Unlock response
- November 2015 Ex-offenders, charity trustees & managers: Briefing – Charities Bill 2015-16 (November 2015) – Protection and Social Investment
- November 2015 Review of Education in prisons – Unlock Response
- November 2015 The Police Act 1997 and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2007 Remedial Order 2015 Consultation – Unlock response (November 2015) – Scotland
- September 2015 Department of Justice Northern Ireland – Criminal Records Filtering Review – Unlock response
- August 2015 Scottish Government Consultation response – Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- December 2014 Written evidence to the Joint Committee on the Draft Protection of Charities Bill – People with convictions as trustees
- November 2014 Written submission to the Financial Inclusion Commission
- February 2014 Submission to the Charity Commission- People with convictions as trustees
- November 2013 Consultation response – Rehabilitation of Offenders Act reforms by Scottish Government
- April 2013 Letter to Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
- February 2012 Briefing on the Consumer Insurance Bill (February 2012) – Disclosure and Representations
- November 2011 Written Evidence to the Special Bill Committee – Consumer Insurance Bill (November 2011) – Disclosure and Representations
- May 2011 Evidence to the Public Bill Committee on the Protection of Freedoms Bill
- March 2011 Submission to the Breaking the Cycle Consultation
- February 2011 Barred from voting briefing (February 2011) – with PRT and others
- December 2010 Submission to the Criminal Records Review – Phase 1
- November 2010 Recommendations to the Vetting & Barring Scheme Review
- October 2010 Our Proposed Filtering Approach
- August 2010 Review of offender learning: Individual members response
- March 2010 Response to a Parole Leaflet for Prisoners
- March 2010 Unlock Member Briefing – A Balanced Approach – Independent Review by Sunita Mason
- March 2010 Vetting & Barring Scheme – Issues raised by reformed offenders
- February 2010 Recommendations to the Independent Review of Policy on Retaining and Disclosing Records held on the Police National Computer
- February 2010 Member Submissions to the Independent Review of Policy on Retaining and Disclosing Records held on the Police National Computer
- February 2010 Briefing Paper on the Criminal Records Bureau
- November 2009 Briefing Paper for the Second Reading of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill 2009 (November 2009) – Amendment
- May 2009 Legal Services Commission Prison Law Funding Consultation – Giving prisoners a voice
- March 2009 The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 – Consultation Response to the Ministry of Justice Claims Management Regulation
- January 2007 Published response to Equalities Review Interim Report
- January 1970 Ex-offenders, charity trustees & managers – Written Submission to Public Bill Committee Scrutiny Unit
