Latest updates
- Filtering rules have changed – are you asking the right question?
- Updated: DBS filtering rules have changed
- Unlock publish toolkit to help local authorities ban the box
- Unlock asks HM Treasury to make employment for people with convictions a priority
- New report highlights potentially hundreds of unlawful criminal record checks by employers each year and the lack of action by government in preventing them
- Financial incentives to encourage hiring people with convictions
- HMPPS confirms prison and probation roles are covered by filtering rules
- Recruiting with conviction at a time of national crisis
- Unlock’s submission to the ICO’s call for views on processing criminal records data
Why is this important?
Over 11 million people in the UK have a criminal record, with around a third of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance having received a criminal record in the last 10 years, and yet 75% of employers admit to discriminating against applicants on the basis of a criminal record.
People with irrelevant criminal records are often discouraged from applying for jobs that ask about them on the application form.
Employers can’t afford to ignore the diverse skills and experience of people with criminal records.
Ricky’s experience of applying for work shows the benefit to employers that ‘ban the box’ from application forms, instead dealing with criminal records at the job offer stage, giving people a chance to be interviewed on their merits.
Popular guidance
Below are quick links to the top 5 most visited parts of the practical guidance section:
1. Wording of questions about criminal records
2, When to ask about criminal records
3. Doing the correct level of criminal record check