Unlock comment – Lammy review

Commenting on the report by David Lammy MP and his recommendations for reform to the criminal records disclosure regime, Christopher Stacey, co-director of Unlock, said:

“This important review rightly recognises the significant negative impact that the current criminal records disclosure regime has on people’s chances of finding work after they’ve turned their lives around. It unnecessarily anchors people to their past, locks them out of the labour market and has a considerable financial cost to society through out-of-work benefits. The regime is in desperate need of reform.

 

“Unlock has long supported the introduction of a criminal records tribunal, a process that would enable individuals to apply to have their criminal record deemed spent or filtered and, if granted, would mean it must no longer be disclosed to employers on a relevant criminal record check. There is evidence from overseas that this approach works, and it would help to address the injustice that many people face as a result of what are currently arbitrary fixed rules that take no account of the positive steps people have taken since their criminal record.”

Press/media enquiries

Following publication of the report, Unlock has featured in the following  publications/programmes.

CIPD

Personnel Today

The Express

BBC Radio Kent

The Independent