Applications from people with criminal convictions

The Rehabiliation of Offenders Act was brought in to help people with criminal convictions get into work. Whether an employee needs to tell you about a conviction will depend on:

• The type of conviction
• The length of sentence
• How long ago the offence happened
• Type of work (e.g. working in security)

Some convictions become "spent" after a period of time and don't have to be disclosed. If you request information about convictions during the application process, prospective employees must tell you if they have been convicted of specific crimes and if they received a custodial sentence of a certain length. Some convictions never become spent and they always have to be disclosed. For more information visit the NACRO website www.nacro.org.uk or ring NACRO on 020 7582 6500.

To download a table of rehabilitation periods, click here. (PDF)

Other useful sites:

Criminal Records Bureau
Set up to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions. By providing wider access to criminal record information, the CRB helps employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors identify candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involving contact with children or other vulnerable members of society. Ex-offenders will retain the protection afforded by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Visit www.crb.gov.uk or ring the Information Line on 0870 90 90 811.

Data Protection
If you are storing sensitive information about individuals such as criminal proceedings or convictions, you should ensure that you comply with the Data Protection Act.

Visit www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk or ring 01625 545 745.