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December 6 2016

The Rules on Employing Ex-Offenders

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 introduced the concept that ex-offenders sentenced to less serious penalties should, after a period of time, be considered rehabilitated and not obliged to disclose previous convictions which would be regarded as ‘spent’.

The Act also stated that some occupations would be exempt from its protection, meaning that even spent convictions for those wishing to undertake such roles would continue to be disclosable. In March last year the Act was amended so that most convictions now become spent in a shorter period of time. The amendments also increased the number of sentences, which could become spent.