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For people with criminal records
For people with criminal records

Story Type: Successes

Rejected by employers but could my conviction also stop me from becoming a mother?

In the risk averse world in which we now live, it can seem like every organisation wants to know whether we have a criminal record and if so, the details of it. Melissa was surprised to find herself having to disclose information about her conviction to a fertility clinic.

 

Almost a year ago I decided that I wanted to start a family. With joy, excitement and lots of nerves all bundled up, I contacted a fertility clinic who posted a series of forms to me. Innocuously tucked in between the forms asking about my medical background and my consent for treatment was a ‘Welfare of the Child’ form with the earth-shattering question:

Have you ever been convicted of harming a child?”

Now let me rewind and tell you a little about the conviction I’d received 5 years previously. I had a sexual relationship with someone over the age of consent, yet within an institution in which I had a position of authority. The story received a significant amount of press attention and public opinion was clearly divided on the topic. I will never defend my actions and the choices I made at the time of my offence. They were completely unacceptable both personally and professionally.

However, the question that I now needed to answer was, did it constitute ‘harming a child?’

For me, there was no question. The individual involved was not a ‘child’ and there was no element of coercion or harm in my conviction.

The media (and therefore public opinion), on the other hand, might disagree with that conclusion. What was I to do?

  1. Tick the “no” box and leave it at that; unrealistically hoping that no-one at the clinic ever came across my name in the press and that if they did they agreed with me that it didn’t involve ‘harming a child’.
  2. Tick the “yes” box and state that I had ‘harmed a child’ – an option I wasn’t prepared to even consider, on principle.
  3. Tick neither “yes” nor “no” but provide them with full disclosure.

After much deliberation, canvassing the opinion of my family and friends, long-term therapist and GP (who, incidentally, all agreed that it was not a conviction related to ‘harming a child), I made the decision to go with option 3.

I wrote a very carefully worded letter of disclosure, asked a close friend to provide a character reference, asked my therapist to provide a letter with her professional opinion and my GP to provide a letter confirming he had no cause to be concerned for the welfare of any child I may have. Armed with these documents I went back to the clinic and handed in my form.

As I had anticipated, a pre-defined procedure kicked in immediately. I was asked to come back to the clinic in a week’s time to meet with their in-house counsellor for an interview.

The nerves I experienced during that week are hard to describe, the sick feeling in my stomach was constant, as was the desperate fear that the dreadful decision I’d made 5 years earlier could stop me from having the chance to become a mother. I was terrified.

The morning of the interview came, and I arrived at the clinic shaking. I had come prepared to defend my position and, if necessary, formally appeal if the decision didn’t go my way. I had experienced 5 years of disappointment at the way in which employers and institutions could sometimes respond to convictions in an entirely blanket way, without any consideration for the circumstances of the individual case and I was ready to fight for my rights.

What a relief when, within the first 30 seconds of walking into the interview, my faith in humanity’s ability to apply common sense to a situation was restored.

The counsellor assured me that they did not consider me to be at risk of ‘harming a child’. She thanked me for providing them with such a comprehensive range of supporting documents at the outset and emphasised how much easier that complete disclosure had made their decision.

I was more relieved than I could possibly say. They had made a decision based on facts and the opinions of experts as opposed to having a gut reaction to the perceived risks around people with convictions.

I’m so grateful to them for approaching my situation without prejudice and with common sense.

Now let the next stage of my life begin!

By Melissa (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  • Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  • Information – We have some practical information on disclosure
  • Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to this issue on our online forum.

 

Disclosing to an employer – Some ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’

Having been through the process of disclosing her conviction to several employers over the years, Stacey provides some tips on what’s worked for her.

 

My conviction is now quite old and for many years I’ve been working very successfully in spite of it. In fact I’d say my criminal record is most definitely in the past and hasn’t bothered me for many years. However, this hasn’t always been the case and I’ve had my fair share of up’s and down’s when applying for jobs.

However, along the way, I’ve learned a few things about disclosure which I’d like to share. Some of these things may be quite obvious but when you’re going through the process it’s not always easy to see things clearly.

Applying for jobs very soon after you’ve been convicted can be difficult and, as time passes between the past and the present, prospective employers will be able to see that for x number of years you’ve had a clean record.

When to disclose will often be determined by the employer – they could ask on the application form, at interview or once you’ve been offered the job. The best scenario for me was being asked to disclose once I’d been offered a job. At that stage, I was able to get an idea of how approachable my ‘boss’ was going to be and this often helped with the things I included in my disclosure.

I’d always prepare a disclosure statement in advance so I knew exactly what I was going to say; I’d practice it in front of a mirror. I found this made it easier to get my story across without getting distracted or upset and meant that I didn’t go home afterwards wishing I’d said this or that. Other than disclosing the actual conviction, there are a few other things I’d suggest:

DON’T

  • Blame anyone else for your offence, always take responsibility for your actions
  • Complain about the consequences (for example how harsh you thought your sentence was)
  • Make excuses – there’s a fine line between mitigating factors and trying to condone your behaviour.

DO

  • Point out that you’d never had any dealings with the police before your conviction (assuming you hadn’t) and you have no intention of ever having dealings with them in the future
  • Describe it as a lapse in good judgement (if you can) and if there were extenuating circumstances do explain them, especially if the circumstances are no longer an issue. If they are, explain the actions you’ve taken to deal with them in an appropriate way
  • Be remorseful (about committing the crime – not about getting caught!)
  • Explain it as something that happened but that you have learned from it and are now ready and determined to rebuild your life. Speak positively and confidently.

If you’re finding it hard to get a paid job, you might want to think about doing some voluntary work. Once you’ve got your foot in the door and shown that you’re willing to work for nothing, then many organisations will consider you favourably as and when a paid vacancy becomes available.  It always looks good on your CV and prospective employers admire the fact that you’ve given your services for free.

There are some situations where your criminal conviction will actually be a bonus because you’ll be able to relate to and empathise with certain clients groups. A classic case of turning a negative into a positive.

I hope this helps and for anybody that’s currently looking for a job, I wish you the very best of luck – it will happen.

By Stacey (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  • Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  • Information – We have some practical self-help information on disclosing to an employer
  • Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to this issue on our online forum

 

Baking the world a better place! Bringing about social change and reducing the stigma of a criminal record via a bakery business

As we all know, securing a job with a criminal record can be extremely difficult and those thinking about self-employment can often be held back by a lack of funding and sometimes the confidence to go it alone. Having recently come across The Barker Baker, I was amazed to discover that the company came about as a result of a course run by the Probation Service together with the passion and motivation of somebody who wanted to bring about social change and reduce the stigma of having a criminal record. Here’s The Barker Baker’s story.

Approximately 5 years ago Francesca received an 18 month suspended sentence for a fraud offence and began her supervision sessions with her probation officer. She attended the various courses she was expected to do but, unlike a lot of the usual courses offered by probation, Francesca was introduced to a course being run by Virtuous Bread.

Virtuous had received funding from Ex Cell and the Hope Foundation to teach six individuals, being supervised by probation the essentials of setting up a micro bakery. Francesca was one of six selected to go on the course.

After completing the course, Francesca knew that baking was her future. After setting up a crowdfunding page she managed to raise £467 from people all over the UK and so began her baking business. She bought mixing bowls, flour, a folding table, a gazebo, a table cloth and a clapped out vintage suitcase. Once fully kitted out she booked a space at her first market and very quickly sold out of all the items she’d taken. Francesca explained:

“Everyone loved the bread, loved my story and appreciated the hard work I was putting in to get back on my feet. Baking my first loaves of bread gave me a sense of pride and a sense of purpose”.

Francesca began selling her bread at markets all over Greater Manchester and began taking orders from customers. She soon had back to back bookings for months on end and from the markets, came wholesale and internet orders through her website.

The next major step came with opening of her first shop, The Barker Baker. Talking about the opening, Francesca said:

“We had the most incredible start to the business, selling out daily and being welcomed by the local community. We had everyone in the shop, from people who’d lived in the village for 70 years, to young couples wanting something to go with their evening meal. It was everything I wanted it to be.

One day we offered everything we had for free, asking customers to make a donation to charity. We raised a great sum of money which we were able to give to Mind.”

In addition to the shop, Francesca now teaches baking workshops across the country with youth offending teams, probation services, women’s groups and prisons. She’s determined to share her story and her passion and help people to shape their own futures. For Francesca, The Barker Baker isn’t just about bread, the baking is therapeutic and was the stepping stone that allowed her to feel normal, to feel free and to feel good at something.

“This time five years ago I was on police bail awaiting my court date to find out what would happen to me. Today I’m sat in my shop, my bakery, doing paperwork, ordering stock, organising staff rota’s.”

The focus of The Barker Baker has always been about bringing social change and reducing the stigma of a criminal record and Francesca is as determined as ever to give others a second chance.

Since setting up the business, Francesca has won several national business awards including the coveted Best Female Entrepreneur Award 2014 and Business Newcomer of the Year Award 2015.

You can read more about Francesca and her business in the Manchester Evening News or by watching an interview she gave to National Prison Radio.

 

 

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this page by commenting below
  2. Information – We have some practical self-help information on self-employment
  3. Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to this issue on our online forum

No pain, no gain – Don’t let your embarrassment about the past stop you from disclosing to a new employer

Having received two convictions for common assault, Stuart always worried that potential employers would see him as a violent thug rather than an individual just caught up in a disagreement over a restaurant bill. However, when a fantastic job offer came along, he had to put his fears to one side and disclose.

Almost 15 years ago I was convicted of two counts of common assault following an altercation with a couple of waiters in a restaurant whilst I was having dinner with friends. At the end of the meal there was a bit of a disagreement over the bill; we thought we’d been charged too much. A couple of the waiters started to become quite aggressive and despite only trying to defend myself, I was arrested, charged and received a fine.

I’m the least violent person you’re ever likely to come across – I’ve always taken great pride in the fact that I can talk my way out of a situation rather than turn to violence. Although I’ve heard people say “It’s only a conviction for common assault, don’t worry about it”, I do.  As far as I’m concerned it portrays me as somebody I’m not and I’ve always struggled to disclose it to an employer.

For several years after my conviction, I stayed in a job that I really hated; I was too worried about telling a new employer about my conviction so I just put up with it. Once my conviction was spent, I began applying for jobs which only required basic criminal record checks and managed to secure a role in customer services. I’ve loved the job and the people I work with but I suppose there comes a time when you start to feel as though you’re not being challenged enough and start to consider moving on.

The push to move jobs came about when I read something in the newspaper stating that the Civil Service were going to be removing the question on their application form which asked about criminal records. As my conviction was spent this didn’t really affect me too much but, out of curiosity, I went online and saw a customer service job advertised with HM Revenue and Customs. It sounded perfect and, full of enthusiasm, I completed the application form.

I knew my application had been good and was delighted to hear that I’d been invited for an interview. The interview was tougher than I thought it would be and 10 minutes after leaving the HMRC office I’d totally convinced myself that I didn’t stand a chance and had performed really badly. Fortunately, it hadn’t gone as badly as I’d thought and I was offered the job a week later. However, I wasn’t able to celebrate for too long. As I looked through the information pack I was sent by the HR department, I read that roles at HMRC were exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and I was asked to disclose unspent and spent cautions/convictions which were not eligible for filtering.

It was the last thing I’d expected and, as I had two charges of common assault, I knew that they wouldn’t be filtered and I’d need to disclose. I just needed to decide whether I wanted to disclose or should I keep quiet and turn the job offer down.

If the job had been with anybody else I would have walked away but let’s face it, a job with the Civil Service is pretty much a job for life. I was being offered a good salary, a marvellous pension and there were fantastic opportunities for promotion. If I turned the job down, I’d always wonder what might have happened if I’d disclosed.

Although I completed the form, it didn’t feel right just emailing it back to HR. I’d lived with the shame of my conviction for years and it was important to me that I was able to explain that my actions on that night did not reflect who I was. So I rang HR and arranged to go in and have a chat. I must have changed my mind 20 times or more about going along but, I kept thinking about the positives and pushed on.

I’m not going to say that the disclosure was fine. If you’ve ever done it you’ll know what I mean. Some times are better than others but it’s never a good experience. All I can say is that the lady I spoke to didn’t look too surprised and I certainly didn’t feel as though she were judging me in any way. She nodded in all the right places and asked me a couple of questions about how I felt at the time and how I felt now. I told her that at the time I had just been defending myself and hadn’t thought through the consequences of my actions. Since then however, I’ve had to live with the shame and embarrassment every day and, would certainly act differently if I were put in that situation again.

At the end of my disclosure the HR lady thanked me for being so honest even though she could tell it had been difficult for me to discuss. She confirmed that the conviction made no difference and the job offer stood.

Although I’ve not always followed my own advice, I’d tell anybody now that if you get a great job offer, then the 10 minutes of pain you go through when disclosing can definitely be worth it.

By Stuart (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have some practical self-help information on disclosing criminal records to employers
  3. Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to this issue on the online forum.

Success in getting my Sexual Offences Prevention Order discharged

Graham’s SOPO was due to end at the end of this year but, he decided that he’d enquire as to whether he could get it discharged earlier. He was told that he could apply and thought that it would be useful to share his experience.

 

I was convicted of a sexual offence in 2008 and given a 10 year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Earlier this year, I made enquiries at the Crown Court as to how I would go about discharging my SOPO. The Court provided me with quite a vague response and I was told that my enquiry would be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Within a matter of weeks, I received a letter from the Court notifying me that I was due to appear there in one week’s time for my appeal hearing. I found this very odd as I’d not actually asked for my SOPO to be discharged; I’d only made an initial enquiry. It would appear that the CPS had no objection to my application and neither did the police, and it was therefore the police who made the application not me.

The advice I’d received from a couple of organisations stated was that if there were no objections raised, then the discharge would be a paper exercise and I wouldn’t have to attend the court in person. I fully expected to receive a letter from the Clerk saying that I wasn’t required to attend but I was wrong and had to go along.

Given that I had just one week’s notice, I was concerned about the process in court and whether I’d need a solicitor to represent me. In the end, I felt I’d be able to represent myself and, with both the CPS and the police raising no objection to the discharge, I really felt I would be pushing at an open door. However, I did take the precaution of writing a letter of submission to the judge in which I expressed remorse for my original crime, set out details of the courses I’d attended, pointed out my crime-free years since my conviction, how I’d worked in the community, and the fact that I was in a loving and stable relationship. This was posted to the Clerk of the Court for the judge’s attention.

My appearance in court was possibly one of the shortest on record, fifteen seconds maximum. I was asked to identify myself, which I did and then the judge simply said that he agreed with the CPS and the police and the order was “hereby” discharged.

However, he did add that as the order had been made in a Crown Court it must also be discharged there with me in attendance. This may be a new requirement but it certainly flies in the face of the advice given from several quarters that it would merely be a paper exercise.

So, for anybody thinking about applying to have a SOPO discharged, I’d give the following advice:

  1. If you’ve adhered to all your SOPO conditions then it might be worth asking your Public Protection Officer (PPO) about a discharge. I was a low-risk offender so this may have helped. Just remember that the police have to agree to an appeal if it’s within five years of the order being made; after that they don’t.
  2. You may be asked to attend court. I would have been happy to answer any questions put to me by the judge but, as the CPS and the police had no objections, I wasn’t asked any. If you’re not going to use a solicitor then it might be useful if you write a letter in advance to the judge – as I did – outlining why you’re requesting your SOPO be revoked. I cannot say whether this had any impact on the judge’s decision, but it won’t have had any adverse effect.
  3. The decision to terminate my SOPO five months early may indicate the pressure that the police are under and the tacit understanding that low-risk offenders are taking up too much police time. If this is true, then an appeal to discharge a SOPO may not be as fraught as you might think.

I hope this helps and gives more people the confidence to apply to the court.

By Graham (name changed to protect identity)

 

A comment from Unlock

This story will hopefully encourage others with SOPO’s to seek the permission of their Public Protection Officer to have their SOPO’s discharged.

Whilst you may have to attend court, it appears that the hearing could be quite short and cause you less stress than continuing with a SOPO which can impact on when your conviction becomes spent.

Useful links

Now I’ve got my professional indemnity insurance, I can start to believe that the best is yet to come

Bruce has worked hard to turn his life around after receiving a conviction two years ago. For a while however, it looked as though all his efforts would come to nothing when he was struggling to get insurance for his fledgling business.

 

 

In November 2016 I received a conviction for downloading indecent images and received a suspended sentence.

From the very first interview I had with the police, I couldn’t explain why I had downloaded and viewed those images as I knew in my heart that I’d never hurt a child in any way. I knew it was important that I got to the bottom of why I’d done what I did.

For four months following my conviction, I sold practically everything I owned to finance a course for people with sexual offences run by the Lucy Faithful Foundation. Over the course of the 10 week course, I came to understand how my use of porn to offset depression and stress led to an addiction to pornography and ultimately to my downloading indecent images. The course helped me to appreciate the pain and anguish behind the smiling images I’d been looking at and the abhorrent reality those kids were forced to live in.

There’s no escaping the shame and guilt I feel for what I did and the empathy I now have for the victims. In addition, I’ve had to come to terms with the impact my offending and conviction has had on my wife and family and I hope that over time I’ll be able to make amends and prove that I’m a better man than I was before.

Knowing why I did what I did allowed me to work through processes to ensure I’ll never re-offend again and start rebuilding my life.

Initially I was very optimistic; I walked out of court grateful for the chance to start again, a new beginning, a new improved me. The justice system and fate had given me the chance to prove myself and make a new future.

After finding it almost impossible to get a full time job due to my obligation to disclose my offence when asked, I decided to set up my own limited company. I could then do some of the contract work that was being offered to me.

I set up my website, organised business cards etc and began to set about marketing my consultancy. Four weeks ago I secured a really lucrative six month contract with a company, only to have it withdrawn when I disclosed my offence.

It was during this time that I also realised that it was virtually impossible to get professional indemnity insurance meaning I couldn’t put work through the company I’d set up. I never for one minute thought that getting insurance was going to be the thing that bought my business to a halt before it had even started.

I have always worked since leaving school and now more than ever needed to keep the money coming in so I could support myself and pay my way without being a burden on society.

However, now, no matter what I did, the requirement to disclose my offence stopped me from moving forward. As a self-employed person, I felt that fewer people would ask me about my criminal record and, having my own business would be the best option for me. The problem with insurance really started to make me panic as I didn’t know what I’d do when the money ran out.

After some further internet research, I came across Unlock and their list of insurance brokers and after ringing around I managed to get myself some professional indemnity insurance. It wasn’t the most competitively priced but it was affordable which was all that mattered to me. This has given my confidence a real boost and I’ve started to see light at the end of the tunnel. The requirement to disclose is still going to be an issue I am sure but at least now I have more of a chance to support myself and hopefully build on the foundations I now have in place for a successful business.

This is strange to say but the criminal justice system has worked for me. My increasingly introvert lifestyle and resulting unhappy home life was fuelling a downward spiral of depression and unhappiness that had me on a road that was only going to lead to tragedy. My arrest and the subsequent help I received stopped all that. It put me back on track, gave me the help I needed, and has led to a complete lifestyle change.

I now only ever use a computer for work and shopping etc and spend more time hiking, carrying out volunteer work for the National Trust and spending quality time with my family and friends.

I know one thing for certain, however hard it is for me now, it is still preferable to how I was before. As such, I am optimistic for the future and for a better, healthier, more productive life.

By Bruce (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  • Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  • Information – We have some practical self-help information on insurance and sexual offences
  • Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to insurance and sexual offences on our online forum.

Volunteering taught me to work for a cause and not for applause

Toby has been volunteering for a couple of homeless charities over the last few years and is really keen to highlight how he’s benefited from volunteering.

 

Prior to receiving my conviction I had a pretty high profile job which provided me with a fantastic lifestyle and the respect of my family, friends and peers. I worked hard and got great results for my clients and would regularly be ‘slapped on the back’ by colleagues telling me what a great guy I was.

That all changed when I received a conviction for a serious offence and spent time in prison. I lost absolutely everything; family, friends, home, job and respect. I deserved it of course and having nothing allowed me to re-evaluate my life and what was important.

Towards the end of my sentence, I was able to apply for voluntary work and was granted a temporary licence by the prison to go out every day. I volunteered for a charity supporting homeless people and I loved every minute of it. I didn’t get paid a big fat salary but I got so much job satisfaction.

I’ve now left prison and continue to volunteer – a different charity but the same user group. Last week my manager gave me some information about Volunteers Week which celebrates the work done by volunteer’s right across the country. This got me thinking about what volunteering has done for me.

Volunteering offers different people different things but for me it:

  • Makes me feel good – Volunteering makes me happy (there’s academic research to prove it). Giving my time to others gives me a great sense of accomplishment.
  • Has increased my connections – The relationships I’ve developed when volunteering have been endless and these new networks have kept my mental and emotional health in good shape.
  • Has given my life a purpose – People with convictions can feel very isolated but volunteering gave me a reason to get up in the morning.
  • Taught me new skills – Volunteering has given me the opportunity to explore new skills and interests that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to try.

So, if you’ve got a bit of spare time while you’re looking for work and with all the perks that volunteering can offer – there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t give it a shot.

By Toby (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  • Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  • Information – We have some practical self-help information on volunteering
  • Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to volunteering on our online forum.

Changing my name has changed my life

From everything he’d read, Liam thought it unlikely that he’d be able to get Google to remove the links to his name. He decided therefore that he’d do the next best thing and change his name.

 

I’m a very lucky person. I come from a loving family which also happens to have a rather unique name; so unique that a song was written about it years ago. There’s not many of us around the world, so put my name into a search engine and sadly me and my 12 year sentence for a sexual offence comes up.

Within months of being released from prison, I realised that a quick internet search of my name would unravel the new life I’d made for myself (new town, job, friends, relationship and church). My probation officer made sure that people who needed to know about my offending knew about it but, everybody else was in the dark and I wanted to keep it that way. However, with my very unique name the more I put myself out there and re-joined society, the more chance there was that somebody would look me up. Sadly, I think it’s fairly common practice for new friends/employers to run your name through a search engine – we’re all nosy like that.

So, I elected to change my name. Not my first name as loads of people knew me by that, so if some people called me John and some called me Tom that could lead to some difficult questions. But, my last name had to go even though it was going to be a wrench.

I discussed the idea with my probation and PPU officer. I emphasised that I wasn’t contemplating this as a way to circumvent their supervision or to get one over on the community, but only so I could move forward safely. They agreed, and asked to be told what I was changing it to and when. I then told my parents and asked for suggestions. We decided to go back a generation to a previous family surname. I did a google search on what my new name would throw up and there were loads of people with the name but no mass murderers or child molesters. So rather than my custody photo and the judge’s scathing condemnation of my crime coming up top, I could disappear into the woodwork of nice middle class strivers.

Actually changing my name was surprisingly easy. A google search revealed two ways; official and unofficial. The official way meant paying money, using a solicitor and enrolling my deed poll which would lead to my old and new name being registered in the official London Gazette which also happens to be listed on Google. So my old and new name would still come up – an amazing own goal!

So, I picked the unofficial route. I merely wrote my own deed poll and printed off a number of copies. I signed each copy in the presence of a witness and got them to sign each copy too. The witness has to be over 18, known to you but not a family member. No need for a solicitor or other professional.

A requirement of changing your name is that you have to fully live your life in your new name, you can’t have somethings in your old name and some in your new one. So starts the long process of sending off an original signed copy to banks, insurance companies etc. You can change your driving licence free of charge so I did this first which then gave me photo ID in my new name. I could then apply for jobs and open bank accounts etc. It took a week for the new licence to arrive in the post.

I also applied for a new passport. I chose to go to the Passport Office in person since it was quicker and I could explain my story in person and overcome any administrative issues. I’d asked for my PPU officers permission to apply for the new passport and again emphasised that I only needed it to prove my entitlement to work in the UK and had no intention of leaving the country, thus violating my licence conditions and become a wanted criminal on the run. As soon as my new passport arrived, I photocopied the ID page and gave it to my PPU officer.

I changed all my online accounts – nothing worse than getting an email to your old name. All the paperwork in my flat has been tidied away so if anybody visits they won’t see my old name on anything. I have a stash of things in my old name that I’m really loath to part with but I’ve buried them in a box somewhere.

So, six months on, everything’s in my new name. People can google me as much as they want and nothing comes up. I feel confident using my new name and making my way in society. All this was nearly undone by technology when a friend called me and I was in the car using hands-free. Blow me if the display in the car radio didn’t flash up my old name. I still haven’t found out how I can change it.

If you’re thinking of changing your name, you may want to use my checklist to help you through the process.

  1. Talk to probation and the police before starting the process and get the ok.
  2. Research your new name on search engines; choose a commonish name.
  3. Don’t pay money to change your name, do it yourself.
  4. Choose your witness carefully; they’ll know your old and new name and may google the old name out of curiosity.
  5. Get official photo ID in your new name first.
  6. Ruthlessly change all your online, offline, bank and other accounts to your new name. Just one letter in your letterbox in your old name could undo all your efforts.
  7. And – relax. Google is no more!

By Liam (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  • Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  • Information – We have some practical self-help information on changing your name
  • Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions related to changing your name on our online forum.

The differing attitudes of employers towards criminal records makes securing a job even harder

Having received a particularly negative response to her criminal record from an employer (despite having worked for them on a temporary basis), Christine was on the verge of changing career. However, a more positive approach at her next interview convinced Christine that although the job she’d applied for was the same, the employer was very very different.

My criminal record didn’t look great. Nothing more than shoplifting convictions but there were a lot of them. I imagine I’d be referred to as a serial offender. I won’t go into the details of why I received so many, my story is probably similar to a lot of other peoples who have issues with drugs or alcohol. Stealing became my only way of maintaining my habit.

I was really lucky and with the support of some fantastic family, friends and professionals, managed to come through this difficult time in my life and cleaned myself up. I went back to college and did a health and social care qualification and before too long I’d managed to secure myself a temporary job as a support worker through an agency.

Disclosing to the agency was the first time I’d talked about my convictions and what had led me to get them and it was a horrendous experience. Surprisingly, the agency didn’t seem to have any problems with my convictions, they were far more impressed with what I’d achieved since.

I loved my job working with individuals who were experiencing real difficulties and being able to work with them to address the challenges they faced and reduce some of the problems and risks. Not only did I love the job but more importantly, I was good at it and this soon came to the attention of the employer who offered me a full time permanent position.

I was told that I’d have to have an enhanced DBS check done but I’d already had one through the agency and I was absolutely certain that they’d passed these details onto the employer before I started the temporary work. It transpired that this wasn’t the case.

As soon as I received my new DBS certificate I handed it over to my manager and was completely stunned when she told me to go wait in her office. I’d not been waiting long when she returned and told me that she was very sorry but due to the results of my enhanced check the permanent job offer was being withdrawn and I would have to leave the premises straight away. I tried to explain that I’d disclosed to the agency and had assumed that this information had been passed on. I’m pretty certain that she believed me but the company policy prevented her from employing me. I could see that she was embarrassed and upset about the situation, but not as much as I was.

For the next month I did nothing, I questioned whether I’d be able to continue working in this field or whether I should give up and turn my hand to something else. After seeking advice from friends and family I decided to give it one last shot and started applying for other support worker roles.

I was offered a couple of interviews and disclosed my convictions at both. I’d be lying if I said it was easier than the first time but it had to be done and the interview seemed the best time. Within a couple of weeks I’d been offered a job. I’d told the HR manager at the interview that I had a recent enhanced DBS certificate and she asked me if I could take it in to her. She also explained that she would be carrying out a risk assessment at the same time.

Following my previous experience I’d pretty much convinced myself that the job offer would be withdrawn and I prepared myself for an interrogation. As I sat in front of the HR manager I could feel my eyes welling up and my lips becoming dry but she told me to relax and just explain my convictions in my own words. She didn’t ask me any questions, just listened and, after my disclosure I saw her sign the form in front of her and then ask me when I could start work.

By Christine (name changed to protect identity)

 

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on disclosing criminal records to employers
  3. Discuss this issue – There are some interesting discussions on disclosing criminal records to employers on our online forum.

I’m still struggling to get over my past but there’s help to improve my future – changes to filtering legislation

Although Helen has struggled to move on since receiving her convictions, she’s more hopeful that potential changes to the filtering process will improve her future opportunities.

 

 

I didn’t really get into trouble with the law during my ‘youth’. However, aged 14 I was arrested and received a caution. Thinking back, it was around this time that I started binge drinking which began to cause me some problems.

Smoking weed and drinking heavily at the weekends was pretty much the norm amongst the gang that I hung around with and by the time I was 19 a deep depression had overtaken me.

The black cloud of depression totally engulfed me; it was overpowering and frightening for a 19 year old and I knew that I had to seek help. A visit to my GP resulted in a prescription for anti-depressants but then the opposite happened. I was getting as ‘high as a kite’, overconfident and argumentative and the weekend drink binges just got completely out of control. The depression came and went, 6 months of highs followed by a dark depressive period.

My first conviction was for drink driving and taking without consent – I ‘borrowed’ my parents car. Another drunken incident resulted in a criminal damage conviction when a friend wouldn’t let me into her house.

But then came the conviction which had the greatest impact; assault on a police constable. What can I say, I was on a night out, drunk again and angry. No doubt I was being a bit of a nuisance and somebody called the police but when they turned up I resisted arrest and assaulted the police officer (I spat on his arm). I can’t excuse my behaviour but all I can say is that the year before I’d been diagnosed with bipolar and was under the care of the mental health team. My mind was not in a good place at the time this incident happened.

I’m repentant and ashamed about my past and although my criminal record isn’t extensive, it’s affected my self-esteem and mental health, thus impeding my whole life. So, why does my record bother me so much? It’s the conviction for assault that causes me the most problems especially if I’m applying for jobs which require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. The word ‘assault’ is so ambiguous and it would be a huge benefit if the DBS could provide more details on my certificate so that employers had a better understanding of what I did. There’s various levels of ‘assault’ and when I explain to an employer that I spat on a PC (not something I’m proud of) I’m not sure that they always believe what I’m telling them, as assault means something very different to them.

I’m sure that there are instances where this level of detail would work against some people but perhaps the DBS could make this an ‘optional extra’ on certificates.

Anyway, onto a better note. As you can see, my past has not been great but, finally, I’ve decided that I’m not going to allow the rest of my life to be dictated by mistakes made almost a decade ago. I’m a mum now and I’m in full time employment but I know that I want to go back into working with young people.

Honestly, my convictions still bother me a great deal and I do feel that certain jobs are out of reach. However, watching the news and getting updates from Unlock, I’ve realised that I’m not alone. Campaigning and change is happening and I’m much more positive about the possibilities for the future. Knowing that there are other people in the same boat as me has made me feel less like an alien and more worthy.

Let’s hope and pray that the work that’s being done around changing the filtering process pays off and can start to benefit people like me who have more than one conviction. Fair do’s, if you commit an offence you need to be punished but do we really need to be punished for life?

By Helen (name changed to protect identity)

 

A comment from Unlock

The government are now appealing the High Court’s recommendations around filtering with the case due to be heard in the Supreme Court in June 2018, with a final judgement expected later in 2018. We are intervening in the Supreme Court case in June this year which challenges the government’s approach to disclosing old and minor criminal records on standard and enhanced checks issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and we’re raising money now to pay for the legal costs that will help us to do this. If you’re interested in helping us with this, please visit our CrowdJustice page.

 

Useful links

  1. Comment – Let us know your thoughts on this post by commenting below
  2. Information – We have practical self-help information on filtering
  3. Discuss this with others – There are some interesting discussions on filtering on our online forum
  4. Policy – Read about the policy work we’re doing on challenging the DBS filtering process

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