Skip to main content
For people with criminal records
For people with criminal records

Tag: Common occupations and professions -

“Computer says no” to running a business

Like many people who contact Unlock, I have convictions. There’s more than one – fraud, burglary, driving whilst disqualified and I’m not proud of them but I’ve learnt my lesson and now I just want to put the past behind me and move on.

At the moment I have an unspent conviction and I’m on licence until next year. I’ve done everything that my probation officer has asked of me and never missed an appointment.

As we all know, work is hard to come by especially if you’ve got a criminal record. I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs and didn’t even get an interview and so at the beginning of this year, I decided to set up my own cleaning business. It’s taken me a while to get it off the ground but I’ve slowly managed to get myself several contracts in and around the town in which I live. I’m trying really hard to be a good person, run a successful business and prove to the community in which I live that I’ve turned over a new leaf.

Now that I’ve got some contacts, I decided last month to start the process of registering my business with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. I mentioned this to my Probation Officer thinking that she would see it as a really positive step. She told me that due to my “offending history” I couldn’t run my own business in any way, shape or form. I asked if I could run if from behind the scenes but again the response was ‘no’.

I was so disappointed. All I’m trying to do is provide for myself and my family and put my criminal past behind me.

I really didn’t know where to turn and a search of the internet led me to the Unlock Helpline. I spoke to somebody there about my experience, the man I spoke to listened for ages and at the end gave me some really good advice.

It looks like my probation officer could be wrong and that I could run my business after all. There’s nothing legally stopping me from being a director of my company and I have no restrictions on my licence. I’m going to have to try and speak with my probation officer and maybe make some sort of formal appeal.

I really hope that my probation officer has just made a mistake but at the moment it feels really personal. It seems as though she is deliberately putting obstacles in the way.

I’m not asking for special treatment and I know that I’ve done wrong in the past. I’ve been told that probation officer’s use some sort of computer programme to assess how risky an offender is. I’ve met my probation officer regularly over the last year and I thought that she had gotten to know me well. Surely she should make a decision based on the face to face contacts she has had with me rather than looking to a computer for an answer.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can continue with my business. If I can’t, I really don’t know what I’m going to do. As the business grows, I want to give other ex-offenders a chance of employment so please probation it’s not just my future that’s going to be affected but the future of others as well.

 

Convictions on your DBS isn’t the end of your employment chances

Some refreshing news for those of us who have convictions that will apparently forever overshadow our possible career ambitions.

The Unlock helpline recently received a call from a person with a very serious conviction (causing death by dangerous driving). The caller had been offered a place at University to study Psychology, and was understandably worried about the DBS check which would be needed as the degree included some work experience placements involving working with vulnerable adult patients.

However, during the course of the conversation the caller revealed that they were already working within the NHS… Upon questioning we learned that their role had indeed required an enhanced DBS check, and that they had got the position anyway, albeit after a stressful and thorough interview process. Basically they had won through by persistence and being both confident and committed enough to give a good, honest and heartfelt account of themselves, and doing everything they could to demonstrate their fundamental decency, integrity, and ultimately – employability.

This is obviously a fantastic and inspirational story. Whilst it may seem to be unusual, perhaps the lesson here is that it is only so unusual because so many people in comparable situations believe that they have literally no remaining chance of their target career, and therefore understandably lack the willpower and sheer audacity to give it a go regardless of their records.

Always remember – the worst that can happen is that you don’t get the job, and you are no worse off than you were before trying. In fact, you could argue that even an unsuccessful outcome can be used as a positive; a learning experience, and a boost of self-esteem and confidence for the fact that you felt able to apply in the first place.

Therefore the message from me is – Go for it, and hold your head up… You have nothing to lose, and plenty to gain.

by Stuart

Working in an airport – Check out the facts and keep at it

by Mary

I would like to share my story with all those individuals who have a criminal conviction and cannot see a positive way forward.

I worked for a luxury brand on the high street and, following three interviews, I management to obtain a position still within my company but at an airport. I was so excited and looking forward to my new role. In 2012 I attended court for an over payment in respect of incapacity benefit which dated back to 2010. To my absolute shock I was convicted and given one hundred hours community service to be completed within 12 months of my conviction. I paid back the money immediately and completed my community service within 5 weeks while still working full time.

I informed my manager of my conviction and they liaised with their HR department. They contacted me to tell me that the job offer was withdrawn, and they also told me that the decision was final and I could not appeal. I put down the phone and my whole world was shattered, I thought this cannot be right and did not know which way to turn. To make things worse and add to my humiliation, company emails were flying around informing senior management that I would not be joining the team at the airport.

Even though I was told that I could not appeal the decision, the whole situation was not sitting well with me at all. I sat up all night and surfed the internet looking for answers, and a way I could turn a “NO you have not got the job”, to “Yes you have”. I ascertained that I needed to apply for a certificate of disregard from The Department for Transport. Within three days I put my case together and submitted it to DFT. I phoned them twice a week to make sure they had all the information that they required and regularly requested an update on my case. It took persistence, drive, focus and faith but, after 4 weeks, I received my Certificate of Disregard in the post!

I was over the moon and I felt like I had won an award! I immediately scanned the document and sent to my employer. It went very quiet for a few days and I waited patiently in anticipation. I received a phone call from my employer informing me that the job offer was reinstated and asking if  I still wanted it!

My employer typed a supporting letter which I enclosed with the Certificate of Disregard and I applied for my airside pass, which I am proud to say was granted! I am still at the airport and have passed the highest level of security clearance.  I wanted to share my story to inspire other people to fight for their rights and win through. Do not let anyone stand in the way of you and success. I could have simply accepted my employer’s decision and walked away. Instead, I decided to stand up and be counted.

I recently discovered that, due to amendments to the law in March 2014, my conviction is now spent. I would like to thank Debbie from Unlock for this valuable information as under the previous law it would have been five years. I am currently looking for an exciting new job opportunity.

So, thanks to Debbie and Unlock, I feel I can engage my higher self and acquire my desired new job without the threat of rejection and being treated differently to other people.

And remember, do not always take the word of other people, check out the facts for yourself and remember that nothing is impossible.

Working for the NHS

NHS_JOBS_logo190209by Nigel

I have convictions for violence (GBH from 8 years ago and a more recent one in 2010) and have recently applied for an IT Position in one of the NHS trusts.

The post is primarily away from patients and hospitals but may occasionally require going in to sort out IT problems, and it involves a DBS check. I did declare the unspent conviction on the original application as there was a section asking this.

I went for an interview, and nothing was mentioned regarding CRB/DBS checks or anything to do with my record. I received a phone call with an offer of employment, and was nervously waiting the dreaded DBS check in the paperwork.

When it came, I completed this fully and truthfully, and ten days later all checks have come back to HR and I have been given the go-ahead to start. I am just waiting on a start date now. This is an NHS trust and I am not sure if other trusts will have different procedures, but it’s good news for me at least and maybe gives others a bit of hope.

We want to make sure that our website is as helpful as possible.

Letting us know if you easily found what you were looking for or not enables us to continue to improve our service for you and others.

Was it easy to find what you were looking for?

Thank you for your feedback.

12.5 million people have criminal records in the UK. We need your help to help them.

Help support us now