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April 18 2019

Experts cautiously welcome plan to change criminal records disclosure requirements

Government proposals to revamp the current system of disclosing criminal records to employers have been welcomed as a step in the right direction, but may not be enough to significantly increase the level of employment among former offenders.

Home secretary Sajid Javid said legislators needed to “look again” at how much information certain offenders were required to reveal when they applied for jobs – though one experienced recruitment expert urged caution about changing the rules surrounding ‘enhanced’ criminal records checks. 

At present, anyone with more than one conviction automatically has the details shared with potential employers when they apply for a role – no matter how much time has passed. The Home Office has discussed a potential change to this requirement with the Ministry of Justice following a Supreme Court ruling in favour of three people who said the current regulations had a destructive effect on their lives.