Around 16% of people have at least one criminal conviction, although most offences will be deemed spent at some point. Can job applicants be asked to disclose their entire criminal history or only
convictions which are unspent?
Published 04.11.2021
Research indicates that one in six people in the UK has a criminal record. Is it OK to ask every job applicant if they have any criminal convictions?
Published 05.11.2019
As a general rule, job applicants don’t have to tell you about any criminal convictions that are “spent”. On 10 March 2014, there were some important changes to the disclosure periods. What do you
need to know?
Published 06.03.2014
Apparently, 61% of employees think that “having a criminal record” is the worst thing they can disclose to a potential employer. But at least 25% of the adult population has one. So can you ask about
any previous convictions?”
Published 07.10.2010
You’ve had a tip-off that an employee has a criminal record for theft which they failed to disclose during the recruitment process. As they handle money, you’re concerned, but don’t know how to
manage the situation. What should you do?
Published 17.05.2007
Whilst carrying out their work, some employees will either routinely or occasionally need to visit people in their homes. By law must these individuals undergo criminal records checks? If not can you
still insist on this?
Published 09.12.2015
An employee’s just pleaded guilty to a criminal offence and is due to be sentenced shortly. A newspaper report mentioned you as his employer and the fact he’d been cautioned for the same offence
before. How should you respond?
Published 09.03.2006
The Court of Appeal has declared that the UK’s criminal records checks system - which is now operated by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - breaches the right to respect for private life.
Does that mean you can’t use it?
Published 25.02.2013
The Supreme Court has decided that the criminal records check system is incompatible with human rights laws, namely the right to privacy. Does this mean you can’t carry out these checks any more?
Published 26.02.2019