What can’t you do with a criminal record?

A life sentence

by Jessica Abrahams / May 22, 2013 / Leave a comment

Published in June 2013 issue of Prospect Magazine

Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce will be in home detention until July (© Rex Features)

Read Vicky Pryce’s on why she thinks the prison system isn’t working

On 13th May, Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce were released from their two-month prison spell, part of their eight-month sentences for perverting the course of justice. It will not have been what they envisaged when they swapped driving penalty points—an offence that 12 per cent of drivers would be willing to commit, according to a 2006 poll.

But leaving prison, and the end of their home detention in July, will not mean a return to normality. In theory, having a criminal record in Britain should not prevent a person from doing much, unless it is for violent or sexual offences. But in practice, the legal obligation to disclose a record, and the discrimination that follows, restricts access to everything from jobs to insurance, loans and travel. That has a huge impact on former prisoners—contributing, some argue, to Britain’s exceptionally high re-offending rate.

YOU'VE HIT THE LIMIT

You have now reached your limit of 3 free articles in the last 30 days.
But don't worry! You can get another 7 articles absolutely free, simply by entering your email address in the box below.

When you register we'll also send you a free e-book—Writing with punch—which includes some of the finest writing from our archive of 22 years. And we'll also send you a weekly newsletter with the best new ideas in politics and philosophy of culture, which you can of course unsubscribe from at any time

Prospect may process your personal information for our legitimate business purposes, to provide you with our newsletter, subscription offers and other relevant information.

Click to learn more about these interests and how we use your data. You will be able to object to this processing on the next page and in all our communications.

DEBUG messsage: regular

How the Gulag robbed Varlam Shalamov of his humanity

Tom Ball / September 27, 2018

The newly-translated Kolyma Stories describe the unreal cruelty of Soviet labour camps

Share with friends

Comments

Simon
June 4, 2013 at 11:06
I whole heartedly agree ...... I am struggling in the financial abyss of an ex-con - cant find anyone who wants to employ me even at £6,25 ph Ex company director with abundant skills wanting employment and still maintaining innocence 5 yrs on
David
June 4, 2013 at 11:48
This is an excellent article highlighting the problems faced by those with criminal convictions. It would have been great though if it could have mentioned how other countries in Europe deal with disclosure of past convictions. The UK system is quite brutal in comparison with our continental friends.
1. Ellis
  April 20, 2015 at 23:21
  I can only speak of France, where you can have your past convictions expunged completely from your criminal record if they are not violent or of a sexual nature. The other thing is that you are not required to mention your conviction to an employer unless it is sexual or of a violent nature in that case you have to present your criminal record with your CV. I know this because I work in Human ressources and I get a lot of questions of this nature from applicants.
Iain Dinning
June 4, 2013 at 20:13
An excellent article and so true. Similar situation to Simon but luckily a stumbled across my current employers which is an ex offender project. The government is not interested in older people and if you have a working partner you get no benefits either. We were trying to manage on £400 a month with mortgages of £1000. Because you are not entitled to benefits you cannot claim for anything. Luckily with support of family I am now bouncing along the bottom but hopefully I now have a future but its no thanks to the government who quite happily took supertax off me for 20 years and when I needed something no chance
Christian Douglas
June 5, 2013 at 10:50
Such a powerful article, I could not have put this better myself. A true reflection of what is happening in today society. I feel more positive then every with the support of big agencies such as St Giles Trust, prospects, UNLOCK and even government ministers supporting for change.
Chris
June 5, 2013 at 17:03
Very interesting article. It looks like there may currently be an imbalance between the agenda to deter crime in the first place, by making life harder for those who have served a sentence ("crime doesn't pay"), and the attempts to stop recidivism, by opening up opportunities for ex-offenders to be rehabilitated into the community. I would imagine that any policy aimed at redressing this balance should take account of the sector in which that person wishes to be employed as well as the length of their sentence and offence which they were sentenced for etc. It would clearly be a ticking timebomb to give somebody with a history of sexual offences a job which involves them working with children (and frankly, unfair on the employer, who would constantly be on guard), but where smaller-scale crimes such as petty theft have been committed as a minor, it seems an unproductive strategy not to encourage that person to join the workforce as an adult. I guess from the perspective of an employer, given the state of the economy and the lack of jobs generally for those without criminal records, it becomes an easy and effective policy to automatically reject for interview somebody who has an obvious "stain" on their CV (bearing in mind that employers (at least in certain sectors) dismiss applicants because of typos on their CVs). From the employer's perspective too, they want to take on diligent employees who will get on with their work without too much fuss, and thus the social stigma associated with being an ex-offender will likely be enough to make most employers fearful, particularly in smaller businesses. It's a risk game ultimately for all involved.
john
July 26, 2013 at 04:47
never work for an employer again , be the employer not the prospective employee . ! its common sense ! dont waste your energy and time going thru a process of dissapointment , most ex imates are clever educated people capable of incredible things , turn your thinking around , be the carrot grower not the donkey !
Nelly
August 16, 2013 at 22:57
Very interesting topic, you all have spoken about those who have criminal convictions due to the crime they committed. How about those who have a criminal conviction that they do not deserve? I got a criminal conviction for " stealing from employer" something that I did not do. When it came to appealing, I asked my work colleagues to come and give evidence in court, they refused because they feared losing their jobs, not having a reference and other have different excuses. So I did not bother with appealing as I had nothing to appeal with. I was my words against my employer and the magistrates had their own way of interpreting the CCTV footage so the justice for me depended heavily on witnesses. Does justice really exists? Where? In which country? This is the only conviction on my record, I am 40 so this is going to prevent me from getting employment and interfere with me being a teacher as it's what I always wanted to do. I don't have the time to sit and wait 5-10 years for this conviction to be " spent" so I can start my teaching career and nor do I want to have to go around explaining on application form/ interviews something I did not do. The only reason I always applied for retail jobs is that they are relatively easy to get, no qualifications required and also because I was/ am vulnerable ( have to sign on) and the Job Centre push people like wherever they can get a job so they can stop claiming from the tax payer/ government. Now the good thing about this criminal conviction is this: 1) now I have a very good reason to hide behind my conviction so the Job Centre will not be able to push me into jobs I don't want. 2) My son is very happy that I won't be able to do dirty jobs any more also, because they require CRB/ DBS clearance. There are lots of professional criminals there, buy not all of them have criminal convictions as they are not caught so what does the government gains by giving people like myself a criminal convictions? Finally,I know who I am, whatever someone else thinks of me does not matter, you have no control over how people perceive you so all I can say is that personally, if I don't get employment, I need not worry myself as the same government that prevents me from getting employment is the same one that will have to pay for my living. I can watch TV until 2 am and get up the following day at 2 pm!
Nelly
August 16, 2013 at 23:13
PS: another thing I find very baffling Is when I find the following on application forms: " we will consider application from people with convictions who show a genuine remorse..." so basically people should admit something they have not done? Just for the sake of getting the job? Is that honesty? Or just Because what is said in court " goes" ? I genuinely believe we live in a crazy society!
graham simpson
August 16, 2013 at 23:33
I do have a criminal record and it not good as u can not get a job and my wife and I would love to adopt a child ........... but with my record I know we will not be able to adopt........ but if I do apply to adopt will I have to disclose my criminal record. or will I be able to get help with being able to adopt a child,,,,,,,,, also can any one tell me if a child has been adopted out and u are there real farther then can u get ur child bk
Nelly
August 17, 2013 at 15:02
Perhaps we who are struggling to find employment should take John's advice above, team up and find a way of earning our own living rather then waiting/ expecting to get employed? We should open Associations or similar and from there we can achieve something. Some of use are still young and can afford to wait for the 11 years it will take for the record to be wiped from CRB/ DBS or can afford to wait for the Law to change but some of us can't afford another 11 years until the records are wiped off from CRB/ DBS. Wait for someone and you will only be waiting to disappoint yourself! As you are putting your trust into someone else's hands! Join me and we instead solve the problem!
EK
August 28, 2013 at 10:55
Good article and raises some issues I had not fully considered. I have only really come into contact with ex-cons in 12 step meetings, and was aware that the journey from jail to a settled life is a tough one. My concern, however, is that it's tough to call for more help for ex-cons at a time when we're told there's not enough to go round. What about the people who don't go to jail, struggling with many of the same issues of exclusion, hopelessness, inability to find affordable housing and meaningful work, and all the rest of it?
sky
August 30, 2013 at 22:08
PLease passing up all your voice over the parliament which had the power to change those legislation. A group od signature petition send together to the MP, if not, it's just keep delay and delaying ... for those suffer lots just because of the minor conviction and that's isn't fair to them. Ex- offenter have receiving their punishment, and should move on to their life. Government should giving chance for them, if not, no one else can ... the old system totally out of date and isn't follow up the reality difficulty which is keep going to be hardship in future life ... http://www.unlock.org.uk/staticpage.aspx?pid=69
sky
August 30, 2013 at 22:58
Also, there are discrimination against those who have family and children born in uk who need to settle here for several years. since the proposal in parliament excluded these rules and Act from UKBA. Those whose having leave to remain, on a family route, partner, spouse, unmarried/ married partner, will totally being discriminate by the parliament ROA Act, (look for highlighted word? 'Is it spent now?') in the below web-link. http://www.unlock.org.uk/staticpage.aspx?pid=69
SS
August 30, 2013 at 23:20
Hi, I have just pleaded guilty to two acts of fraud which I did not commit because I did not have any witnesses to back me up on this. I am awaiting sentencing at the moment I have never been in trouble before and I am 35 years of age and I am turning my life around am currently in part time working and am studying part time at college. My children are my life and I am not sure if I will go to prison for this or not, although I have mentioned the word fraud , please note no money was ever obtained by myself. I am very worried for my future!
Nelly
August 31, 2013 at 12:00
EK, That is why having a criminal conviction doesn't bother me. You don't have a criminal conviction, you struggle to get a job, you have a criminal conviction, you struggle to get a job. In fact a criminal conviction has made my life much easier, I have the upper hand as now I can chose the job I want to do and not the one the Jobcentre wants to give me.it's about knowing how to play the system, the system plays me, so do I play it! Now if the Job Centre push you to take a job and you take it just because they are forcing you or because you want to try it out to see if it suits you and then you start the job and after you leave it, you have nowhere to turn as the Jobcentre will not give you any money because you chose to leave the job! And now when you make a new claim, you get asked a thousand question about why you left your previous jobs, they go back to your last 3 jobs. So before you take a new job, think very hard and make sure it is the right one for you otherwise you might end up in very serious problem. Sky, Don't worry yourself for something not worthwhile, is my advice to you. You know who you are, at the end of the day that's what counts! If they want to put you in prison, they will do so, all you can do is make sure you are armed with a good if not very good solicitor, I've learned that the hard way, if I had one, I am sure I wouldn't have been in the situation I am in now, but I have realized that when you cannot afford a privat solicitor and have to have a Legal Aid one, you have no option, be prepared for things to go wrong and settle for a criminal conviction, the person who said " Money Talks" wasn't wrong.
Nelly
August 31, 2013 at 13:09
PS: the above comment was intended for SS comment and not to Sky. I agree, ROA 1974 is not fit for today, we are 2013, how come we still use ROA 1974? I want to become a teacher, to teach children, why does an offence that is about money theft has to be disclosed on my DBS clearance? What does money theft has to do with teaching? Though the offence never took place. " 1 size doesn't fit all" !
Nelly
September 6, 2013 at 17:05
The issue about Criminal Conviction has been blown sour of porpotion since Child molestation and terrorism. Out there, they dont differentiate between someone who has a criminal convictions and a criminal. Everyone with a criminal conviction is assumed automatically to be a criminal. However, what is alarming here in UK is that professional criminals are roaming the streets free, they don't have a criminal record like me and you. Why? Because you and me are easy targets for the CPS (Crown Prossecution Swrvice) and they are target driven! Here they give me and you a Criminal conviction, which puts a barrier for us to get emolument but at the same time they push us into finding employment, when they have already ruined it.
Nelly
September 9, 2013 at 22:20
Conning back to the Job Centre issue here in UK, why is it that employers are allowed to try out employees for a few months ( even without paying them) and if they are not happy with them, they can get rid of them BUT someone seeking work CANNOT try the job. I worked this place where me and one of my colleague's life was made a living hell by this supervisor who was so insecure that she felt very threatened by me and one of my work colleagues. All young girls were allowed to wear thight trousers but she would pick on the trousers that the 2 of us were wearing and really make us feel like ending our lives. I thought of leaving the job and that my colleague told me that if I left the job I will not be making my situation any better as I will have no where to turn as the Job Centre will not give me a penny and that could also affect my housing benefit and I could end up homeless. I double checked the above information and I realized that my colleague was right, no help from the Job Centre! But to begin with, the Job Centre isn't the one who found us that job, we both found that job ourselves. Now since I lost the above job ( thank God), I am back at the Job Centre, dispite the fact that I have a criminal conviction for being accused of stealing money from the above job, the Job Centre is still pushing me to find a job into retail! When the conviction is far away from being classed as " spent". But when I say that I want to get into teaching where my conviction has nothing to do with the job, the government goes" all convictions have to be revealed on an Enhanced disclosure" !!! Why the Job Centre is pushing me back into retail? Because they know that it is easy to get into retail! But guess what, I will make sure the criminal conviction works for me, it gave me a 1 way ticket out of retail! So the Job Centre is not going to send me back into jobs I don't want, I will tell them which job I want! I realized that that people get " used" for having a clean record! The Job Centre knows that if you have a clean record, they can push you to take any job they ask you to take, if not, you know what will happen...
Andrew Harding
September 11, 2013 at 08:17
December 2003 i was convicted for drink drive offence and This year august i convicted the same offence again. I want to found out How many years should i wait for my conviction to spent .thank you
Nelly
September 12, 2013 at 00:39
My understanding is that a conviction becomes spent after 5 years for adults and half the time for minors. I am not sure about serious crimes. http://www.mcmillansmotoringsolicitors.co.uk/latest-news/drink-driving-convictions-how-long-do-they-stay-on-my-record
Ben
September 17, 2013 at 15:58
I was convicted wrongly of a common assault (domestic violence) by Magistrates despite a lack of evidence, police admitting arrest reports incorrect and the Police Surgeon stating a complete lack of physical evidence. Having served in a large public sector organisation (emergency service)- I have now been out of work for over 2 years, unable to find any work and notwithstanding the whole CRB/DBS procedure, my ex-wife involved the local press and the article about the case, plus photo is the first thing that shows up on google results. Hence when any employer does a background search on me, the gutter press reporting shows up and I don't even get to interview. BA (Hons) in Politics/Philosophy, Masters in Fire Engineering, 10+ years management experience, can't even get a job in McDonalds or as a cleaner is a factory
Nelly
September 18, 2013 at 20:45
I hope this info helps: If you are a woman and have been convicted no more than 2 years ago and have the right to work in UK, contact " Working Chance.org" If you are a man, contact " Blue Sky" they can take women also but their work is mainly ground work. The above organizations help people like us get into paid work.
Andrew Harding
September 20, 2013 at 17:17
When are the changes of rehabilition period going to start from m
Nelly
September 21, 2013 at 10:46
The idea of CRB/ DBS has been exploited big time by agencies/ private companies providing care for the eldery. If someone applies for the same position with a public sector organization, it is very likely that the employer will pay the CRB/DBS cost for the employee. But the private sector is exploiting the system and cashing in big time and they seem to charge whatever they wish: £ 50-75 is very common, all in the name of protecting the vulnerable of course! For example, before I get the cinviction above, I went applied for a eldery care job, I got it and because I had a very rescent Enhanced Disclosure, the employer told me that I could use it for 3 months whilst waiting for the new one to come. They made me pay around £50 even before the probation period ended, which the CRB I had already would have covered. I didn't even make it to the end of the probation period!
Nelly
September 22, 2013 at 17:02
PS: the organizations I mentioned above, you can't just join them, you have to be refered.
Soner
September 24, 2013 at 17:55
Thank you for the information you provide on criminal record
Ted Walsh
September 30, 2013 at 08:58
Very great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing on your rss feed and I hope you write once more very soon!
Nelly
October 4, 2013 at 13:17
The Prime Minister is going US Style! The Prime Minister has promised to " create the land of opportunity" as far as I know such land is the United States but I would not mind if that land expanded to the UK, the only problem is that I hear a lot and see little! Another thing, they can criticise Labour as much as they wish but I never heard so children saying that they have no food at home under Labour. I thought "charity is supposed to start at home"! By the way, I am neither a Tory nor for Labour.
babs
October 4, 2013 at 13:28
i had drink driving conviction in 2010, almost twice the limit (57mg) or so. I was banned from driving for a year. Its been a struggle getting job, i recently was thinking of getting into teaching, infact my sister gave me money to do a certification course in teaching to improve my chances but I'm scared this drink drive issue which i now regret will be a barrier to getting into teaching. Can any one advise me please? its frustration all the way but thumps up for the guy who mentioned be the carrot grower, but problem is how can you be the carrot grower when you are skint?
Jazzo
October 4, 2013 at 22:31
I'm currently completing a lengthy, almost autobiography like Police staff application to work in a call centre taking emergency calls. I have every skill they require, I meet all the key accountabilities they list in the role profile. The only trouble is I have a conviction for common assault which I was convicted of when I was 21. I'm currently 23, I applied for this job before when I was 18 with no experience at all. Obviously I didn't get the job then, they told me I needed "more life experience" so 5 years later I'm back applying for the same role, I've got a whole list of experience which I am demonstrating in this application I am completing for the job. It suddenly dawned on me that a criminal record should not always be seen as a bad thing (depending on the nature) the police told me I needed more life experience right.....so I've gone away and got the job experience and I've also got the criminal record.....if that's not life experience then I don't know what is......I was convicted of a crime and I was punished for this....I will have to live with what I done for the rest of my life and that record will be with me wherever I go. Don't you think I have been punished enough ? Shall I be penalized for the rest of my life ? No wonder this nation is made up of unemployed people, no one gets a second chance or we get chances to work for stupid companies that pay peanuts and over work you and you have senior members of staff that victamise and effectively bully you out of your job back into the dole queue!
Roy
October 6, 2013 at 13:15
I agree that there are some injustices inn getting a job with a criminal record Strange as it may sound, I was offered a good job at the prison where a served a sentence, and if would have been nearer to my home I would have grabbed it @ 30K.! There are still employers out there for the ones that really want it.
Nelly
October 7, 2013 at 10:43
You are right, that is the reason I am back on the dole, God knows how long I will be on it this time before I get a paid job. But rather than the politician doing something about this, they will play their politics and tell the tax payers that people on benefits don't want to work. I agree some people don't want to work at all and mainly because most jobs pay peanuts. Eg: I took a 10 hours/ week job paying just under £62 and thought I could do without claiming the £9 balance from the Job Center but I quickly realized that these days £9/ week is a lot of money so I went to claim the balance and my NI contribution to the Job Centre. The drove me mad! They said that I was earning £80/week which is more than what Job seekers Allowsnce offers, when I asked them how they got £80 they told me that they average the wages!! It was a very lengthy process to put things right with them, it even affected my Housing Benefit and the Council was calling me to tell me that they are in the process of serving me with an eviction letter! The stupid thing is that the same people evicting me would be the same people responsible of rehousing me again, since it wasn't my fault that I got evicted but the Job Centre's. My conclusion is that, I will not take any job if I cannot depend fully on my income, this story of being told to take any job available to me or a part- time job, it is all brain washing, if I take a job that pays less than the doll, Job Centre mess up, whereby Housing Benefit starts "picking nits" out of my head. If I get a part- time job, very enough I don't have to go to the Jib Center but I will be constantly harraseed by Housing Benefit and Council Tax, tearing me apart. So best thing to do? Stay in the doll until I find/ can a full time job that pays good enough that I don't get any " headache" Criminal conviction restricts people from getting a job, on the other hand, Job Center knows this so they know that they can't do much if you not getting a job, good way of staying on the doll for those who don't want to work. As for me, if I don't have a job, it is not too bad as I don't have a loan or a mortgage to pay; I have a roof over my head and get £71/week to live on, not much but surely better than £62 and " headache" free, the only headache I get is for signing on, not from the job itself or a combination of signing on and having some income from a job!! They tear you apart if you have a combination.
Nelly
October 7, 2013 at 12:24
PS: besides tearing people apart the way I mentioned above, with that £62/ week job every time I went to the Job Center to claim what I was entitled to, my adviser treated me no different than those who had no job at all. Everytime he asked me, have you job search? Is this part time job not a job then? On the other hand he was advising me to take any job that is offered to me, part- time or full time, but I am not stupid! Also, not only employers are paying peanuts, there are in the " driving seat" in many ways as they can kick you out very easily if you haven't be employed by them for 2 years, You cannot sue them for unfair dismissal unless you have been employed with the company for 2 years! So, thinking about taking that loan, mortgage? You'll have to dream about it much longer than you anticipated, otherwise " Mr Bank" will say: " cheers" !!
Roy
October 8, 2013 at 16:15
I agree 100% with John (post 26/07/13) control your own destiny. Remember, what the potential employer could have missed!
StJohn
October 12, 2013 at 13:44
As the criminal justice and record system stands in the UK today weather you were rightly convicted or wrongly convicted. Your life as a citizen and a meaningful and contributing member of society is over. If you try to maintain your honesty your going to have a very hard under paid meaningless life but hey at least you were honest. My advice is lie through your teeth and if challenged lie some more. Work for yourself take out as many loans as you can get and go bankrupt every now and then. You only live once and when I die I intend to deserve it.
Nelly
October 13, 2013 at 19:38
St John, Nice one! However, I refuse the CJS define who I am. I know who I am and those who are keen to know the real me will find out, I have nothing to hide. And I take my conviction as a blessing in disguise!
MS
October 14, 2013 at 03:47
I just started working with one young person who wants to have a new beginning. Would you guys, who have more experience, guide me in terms of what type of jobs are available for an ex-offender.
Jazzo
October 14, 2013 at 08:14
I just think once we have been given a criminal record we are no longer a decent person anymore in an employers eyes!
Nelly
October 14, 2013 at 11:35
That's not the end of the world, in that case I will take St Johns advice until I am successful, until than, I get full Housing benefit, and £71/week, more than what I was getting scrubbing toilets!
Nelly
October 14, 2013 at 11:52
And if all the above fails, I will produce some off- springs, enough to generate me enough income and I will get a house also, at the moment I am stuck in a flat!
T C
October 16, 2013 at 20:43
I have an international conviction: In 1996 I was sentenced to two years in a Scandinavian country for transporting hashish (marijuana) into the country, obviously this is now spent and am seldom under any obligation to disclose it - I speak three languages and have since gone on to get a degree in history. Nevertheless I am still struggling to find a use for my degree in finding a job - I have had numerous last minute unexplained changes of heart by HR departments, not only do I live in fear of an enhanced search but I suspect some larger companies can somehow gain access to criminal records. Where I would show up as an international drugs smuggler. This plus the fact that I am a middle aged man makes it extremely difficult, (not to say impossible), to break out of truck driving. (An industry I have come to despise).
Wendy
October 17, 2013 at 05:54
Very interesting thread. I often find my one spent conviction -guilty- and other more recent (innocent but found guilty) - mainly as result of dysfunctional relationship with ex husband -becomes a barrier to employment - especially more in last few years as more employers seem to ask this question I've found. I think Nelly may be onto something about a money spinner with DBS service too. Also thanks for the info on group that helps women offenders. If you read carefully it says you CAN self refer if you meet their requirements. I sent an email so will see what response I receive. Hope we all find life easier - the guilty and the innocent. The past should not affect us I believe sincerely. Good luck the rest of you.
Emily
October 21, 2013 at 22:16
Hi there, I am a student at a university in the UK. I found this thread as I am basing my research for my dissertation on the barriers individuals with a criminal record face in society. I am interested in any barriers individuals feel they have encountered purely because they have a criminal record such as employment, economic, stigma and labeling etc. I have read the above comments and the arguments being voice are what I intend to base my dissertation on. I am at the early stages of my dissertation but I intend to create a questionnaire to ask people the challenges they have been faced with since having a criminal record. If anybody is interested and has experience of the issues raised here and would like to fill in a questionnaire or just find out more about my research project please email me. I would like to add any information received by email or questionnaire will be strictly anonymous and no names or personal information will be used in the final project. Individuals who do participate in the questionnaire/ provide information can request a final copy of the dissertation to ensure no personal information has been used. Thank you very much for your time, a very interesting thread, And if you wish to provide information but don't want to contact me via email, please continue to voice your opinion on this thread as that in itself is very helpful and can hopefully start to change the barriers ex criminals are faced with in society. Please contact me at dissertation.em@gmail.com with any questions or even if you simply would like to know more about my research project Thanks, Emily.
Chris
October 22, 2013 at 02:11
Finding work with a conviction is as hard as it gets! To disclose or not to disclose, that is the question. I was convicted of a serious offence at the beginning of the new century, had a 7 year custodial sentence handed to me - released after 3.5 on parole (nothing to do with kids btw!). I pleaded guilty, completed offender courses, and improved my education. I now hold a degree in English and Media, as well as have completed various writing courses. I have volunteered and have also worked for free for experience. I was married for 5 years and together for 7, with a daughter who I have a great relationship with - we split due to stress and financial issues caused by me not being able to find work earlier this year. I still get on with my ex and speak to my daughter daily. Can I get a job? Nope. Interviews? Some, but with no fireworks as yet. I don't disclose anymore and only apply for jobs I don't need to. Have taken degree off of CV too. I am completely different to how I used to be. No more booze or drugs, or anything abusive to myself or others. No further crimes, arrests, cautions, nothing at all. Clean license for car and motorcycle. None of this matters to an idiot employer who is less educated than myself!! By not being able to find work, I lost my flat I rented out, my wife, my daughter, my possessions, my self-esteem, my confidence, my self worth, and my dignity. For what? Insecure Britain, that's what for! I would also like to see more focus on individual cases, where someone has truly rehabilitated and changed their entire personality, thinking, behaviours, etc., and have done for nearly a decade. A panel should decide if a serious conviction can become spent based on individual circumstances. If I am such a danger to work for a company, why am I free to roam anywhere I choose - I have no restrictions placed on me other than people's narrow-mindedness and Britain's "no second chances" policy. Less than 1% of serious offenders re-offend. Is self-employment our only hope to earn a few pounds to buy food, heat, water and a roof. I only need £18,000 a year to live on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Currently I am in a family member's spare room... One thing's for sure: I won't be type-cast, looked down on, or treated badly by anyone. No one should be. Lead by example as they say. :)
people phone number look up
November 1, 2013 at 07:57
One needs to stay far away from the workplace to find a good and affordable place to live. Weblogs can be used for many different purposes, so just because someone uses a weblog does not necessarily mean that they are searching for self-identity. Some internet websites might not present reliable data.
James
November 11, 2013 at 10:36
The changes have made it worse, at least for me. Before them, my NON custodial conviction would have been wiped after 5 years. Now it's 11 years. So much for justice.
Burnzo
November 12, 2013 at 15:57
Just took a ca today about my job offer being withdrawn due to my crb. I got into a fight as a teenager and some other low level brushes with the law thirty years ago. I am devastated . This difficult part of my life is following me around like a ball and chain clattering behind me in every job application i make. I regret these offences but have changed well beyond the person i was which was young and stupid not bad. Its discrimination pure and simple.If you do not pose a risk to others in any way why should you not be able to work in a job like anyone else. I am beyond words at this point.I got the job based on merit,qualifications and experience.
Nelly
November 12, 2013 at 17:15
But why are you people so hard on yourselves? Haven't you had enough? Possibilities are endless! You just need the courage and faith in yourself. Why do you want to go and earn money the hard way when there is an easier way? Can you produce off-springs? 5-10 will give you a very good income that you will see your conviction as a blessing in disguise! There are many options discussed above but you need courage and self belief! Without that you going nowhere!
Nelly
November 12, 2013 at 23:48
What part of " we don't want to give you a job" don't you understand? Can't produce off-springs? Then how about dog breeding? Or other venues worth exploring, After all it does not matter wheather you have 1 or 10 convictions, so might as well make the most of it, you only live once! Unless you believe otherwise but I haven't seen anyone going and coming back!
Burnzo
November 13, 2013 at 18:35
Hey , its a barrier to getting on , making a living and looking after my family. I agree that i need to live my life as it is the only one i have but how can you when you cannot afford even basic stuff in life. I also am not prepared to except the system keeping myself and others excluded and denied the chance to be economically and socially mobile which also means that my family are affected. There is also the matter of stigma and shame of an earlier event and having to explain it again and again and again. The DBS/CRB system was rightly brought in to protect the vulnerable from harm and death ( Huntley ) but it was not meant to add to the problems of the wider society. Its hard to get on without a criminal record , simple really we are going to pay for the rest of our lives.....its discrimination. I have paid my fines and have had over twenty years rehabilitation .
Nelly
November 13, 2013 at 21:53
I understand what you are saying but it's not what you or I say that counts, but what "they" say. So that why I am saying that until they change this crap system, we have to get away from anything that brings us closer to CRB/ DBS clearance. It's like me telling you that I don't want you close to me and yet you keep fighting to be near me, are you going to succeed or are you just wasting your time? That's why I proposed the options above, HMRC will very kindly reward you with a very descent income if you have a large family, it's all legit! What's wrong with that? How much does a good healthy puppy sells for? £500? The animal welfare people don't have any issue with you if the animals are well looked after. If Mr tax man knocks at your door and you have sold 10 puppies, give him a £100, tell him you only sold 1 and that's how much you selling them for. Next time he comes tell him " sorry Sir, I haven't made any sell since, credit crunch is bitting". Good money, cash in hand, none- to very little tax to pay, very good deal! After all, the "fat fish's" money is somewhere off shore, away from the tax man's claws so why you and my peanut wages have to pass through the tax man's claws before getting into our account? Easy targets, again!
Nelly
November 13, 2013 at 22:23
" Work smarter, not harder", someone said!
Nelly
November 17, 2013 at 10:07
If you have watched " On Benefits and Proud" on Friday, you got the figures: 11 children will earn you a very healthy 66k/ year; yes, £66 000/ year. What else do we want? Why sit here mourning about DBS when no one cares? Making 11 children does not require a DBS clearance, all you have to do is make them and the cash will be rolling into the account. Who among us here can put their hand up and say that they can get a salary paying 66k? We all know what position you have to have to earn that amount of money. If you watched the program, you heard one of the persons involved saying that she doesn't mind working but she wants a job that will pay her in such a way that she will be left with £500/ week after all her expenses. That is not the government strategy here, they want us to work in order to survive not to live, basically it means we are continuously on the treadmill! Until we retire and the retirement age keeps getting further and further, I wouldn't be surprise if the retirement age becomes 99! Employers pay peanuts because they know they can get away with it, the system allows them. When we complain that we are getting paid very little and the government ask them what the heck? Employers say: " hey! We are making them paying taxes, don't you want it?" and the government zip it! Bottom line: we may be paying them peanuts but it still generates income tax! And as long as you paying taxes who cares whether you getting payed less or not, whether you have been able to pay the gas bill this month or not? The only time they care is when you are not paying taxes, that's why there is an institution in place ( the job center) to make sure that you pay taxes. There is no institution to make sure you got a sufficient salary, you not happy with your salary, do the running around to find a job that will give you that but if you not paying any taxes, they will do the running around to get you to pay some!
Nelly
November 17, 2013 at 13:14
And the government is aware of the above issue so they came up with a strategy to get us to take the bait: they say is they salary/ wages are not enough, they will make up for the short fall. ie: don't worry about how much you get, just take the job! So let me tell you what happen to me then when I took the bait: There I am, after many years on benefits, I decided I wanted to change my life and contribute to the economy. I took rhe 16hrs/ week job in retail, 16 hrs is what they were offering but I was happy with that also because working full time wouldn't have benefited me as I wouldn't have anything left after paying all my expenses as I would have to pay my full rent. So I started work and I was waiting for them to work out my housing benefit entitlement so they can tell me how much I have to pay towards my rent and council tax. I received letters from Housing Benefit that they are working on my claim, on the other hand I was receiving letters from Council Tax demanding payment. This was my first job, all the time I was on benefits, when i received letters from these institutions for something like an increase in council tax, they said that if I was on benefits I didn't need to do anything as my account will be adjusted automatically. So I drew the concludion that the rent department and council tax are connected. So any way, when I took the job, I was receiving letters: one department saying they are working it out and the other making demands, so I said they cannot be asking me to make payments before housing benefit tells me how much I have to pay and what the will pay, since they wrote saying that they are still calculating. Any way, cut the long story short, Council tax took me to court! I was made to pay a fine and council tax areas, and yes, they sent me bailiffs also! They said that council tax and rent work differently, I shouldn't have waited for my rent calculations to be sorted, I should have made payments for CT when I was told. But they never told me that and I never knew that if you are on benefits life is so much easier but not when you start working( ie: if you are on benefits letters come saying you don't need to do anything, your account will be automatically adjusted). So Council Tax, very nasty people, these are the people who mess things up and dont shy away from taking you to court, they were the first one to take me to court rather than me taking them for not giving me the correct information. Luckly, CT does not affect your credit file, I would have been screwed up otherwise because sometimes I rely on my credit card to make ends meet. So for them to win, they twisted things around by putting the blame on me by emphasizing that rent and CT are different andbi shouldn't have waited; and I was told that either way I owe money. But it is not owing money that was the issue, the issue was how did the money come to be owed first of all? I did not attend court, I was doing a course and short with time and knowing how lengthy these legal issues are, I decided to pay the court fees. Also, since people on low income have to be always on the "treadmill", they get caught up easily in these sirtv of things and just foke their hard earned money because they don't have the time to deal with it; they cannot step down from the" treadmill". This explains why here there is a high rate of people suffering from all sort of illnesses: high BP, diabetes, you name it!
Nelly
November 17, 2013 at 18:13
And these "perks" the government gives us are only temporary, to intice us to take low paid jobs. It is the HMRC job to keep everyone under the radar, when your child reaches a certain age the game change, in order to get working/ child tax credit, they " raise the bar" you have to increase your hours, in other words be on the "treadmill" for longer. So basically you have to keep changing jobs as they keep raising the bar in order to earn a descent income. That's why when you go to the bank trying to boost your income with these perks, they show you the door! " you dont meet the criteria, sorry", Gee!
carol
November 18, 2013 at 12:08
hey nelly, i replied further up the page but carried on reading..im in a dark place and very angry at the justice dept at the moment but i want to thank you very much for your posts..you made me smile with your comments on life and i applaud your attitude. well done! i especially love the bit where you say your going to have loads of kids…i needed that uplifting moment..thank you!!
Nelly
November 18, 2013 at 23:55
Carol, I can imagine how you feel. And I believe this is having an pact on you more than your son as he doesn't understand as you do, bless him! In a way it is good, who would like to combine mental health issues and this legal system? So the state recognize him as someone who suffers from mental health/ disability, but not the court due to his age? How stupid! And yes Carol, me rolling with my £66k/ year, £900/week net in my account! In a mansion with 11 kids! I will also be able to afford a flight ticket to go and find "Mr Fat Fish" I mentioned above and ask him how he manages to get off the hook from the tax man's radar! I will be sipping cocktails with him on the beach somewhere and I might even decide to date him, I will double up the number of kids! He!heee!
Nelly
November 19, 2013 at 03:35
I just realised that if you worked and your salary is £66k, though you earned it, you will only take home about half and that's if you lucky, because the tax man will put his hands in your pocket and take 50%! I would rather be making the BBQ and sipping some Chardonnay in my mansion's back garden while the £66k role into my account! Let the fools "sprint on the treadmill" for me! LOL.
Al
November 19, 2013 at 10:50
Hi, Found this very interesting. Trying being an ex copper with a conviction. It's like I've got a contagious disease. Not one interview for the last six months. Getting bored of applying for jobs. Ok, I got a conviction but it doesn't make me a bad person.
Nelly
November 19, 2013 at 12:55
Al, Do not take this personal, now you realize that " we are all human and make mistake" but is it what you thought when you were wearing that uniform, had, a gun, a tizzer gun, Handcuffs, a batton, a new police car every 6 months, a training of over powering someone until they feel so helpless and completely useless to defend themselves, when you had the right to tell someone what they cant say and do, drag them wherever you want? Humiliating them on TV courtesy of the media, The list is endless! But now it's " poor me" . It's thanks to the cops that I am here sitting with a conviction for something I have not done. I tell you what, I will stop if I saw someone dead on the road but not a cop. They are judgmental and they think they are above everyone else, the law has allowed them to feel and think that way but when the tables are turned it's " I am only human" Duh!
Nelly
November 19, 2013 at 16:38
It's easy for you to say " I was only doing my job", we all have a job to do, disclosing and explaining this conviction IS a job I/ will have to do for God knows how hong if not for the rest of my life. So what do call " job"?
Nelly
November 20, 2013 at 01:21
How about the dead children's details cops use to make fake IDs and the men/ women they pretend to be in love with but make hem to believe that they are " sheep " when in reality they are " lions"? As I said the law allows them to do all that but if any of us did it, God knows what will happen to us!
Nelly
November 20, 2013 at 21:53
Today THE TIMES front page is: "We regularly fiddle crime numbers, admits police" This explains why you and me are here rather than professional criminal! Can you imagine if the did not focus on turning me and you in and just focused on professional criminals how many they will turn in at the end of the year? By focusing on easy targets like me and you, they get impressive figures and the can say: " we doing our job, we bringing crime down, increase our budget"! You dont have to be a rocket scientist to understand the propaganda behind it! Gee!
Nelly
November 21, 2013 at 19:41
Can someone explain me why the police needs to drive BMWs? never mind that they just end up being crashed in chasses but this is the tax payers money, they can't afford a BMW but they pay for the cops to have one, why? Are there no other fast cars that are cheaper?
Emily Beard
December 5, 2013 at 15:38
Hi there, I am currently carrying out my research project based upon the impact a criminal record has on everyday life. I welcome anyone if they have 5 minutes to fill in the online questionnaire I have made which will be totally anonymous and confidential. At the weblink https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2RDBRXJ I also welcome any additional comments questions and complaints to my email dissertation.em@gmail.com or additionally just reply on here. Thanks very much,
Nelly
December 9, 2013 at 20:49
Since this conversation started with Mr Huhne and Mrs Pryce, I would like to inform those of you that don't know that Mrs Pryce employs a lady who has a conviction and she's also the Patron of Working Chance. So applaus to her. I would also urge people who got convictions to join these organizations because the Goverment denies them funding on the basis that they do not help many people, so the government would rather waste money on the useless Job Centre. So as you understand these organizations rely on fundraising from people who care about this society. even if you don't want to join for yourself, do it for others, if you don't want help, others want it and funding is at the heart of what these organizations do. Please support organisations that make a difference! Thanks.
Nelly
December 9, 2013 at 21:03
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the very special people who donate to Working Chance and Blue Sky, thanks to them that these organisations are able to be there for me and others, I am very glad that I joined.
Kylie
December 11, 2013 at 23:22
My ex husband has criminal convictions from police assaults, drugs, shop lifting etc and are all spent from 10yrs ago. I'm afraid to say he was still in his ways but just lucky not to get caught. I took up with him and made it clear I don't partake in drags or that lifestyle and tried to show him a better way of life. He went to college and tried to better himself but was going behind my back and still doing and dealing drugs. We had a baby and it got worse. He'd been working with children and vulnerable adults etc and when we spilt, it came to light that he put all of these groups into a vulnerable position as did he with my baby. His disclosure was obtained through college but his PVG had a typo error which allowed him to do theses jobs and he laughed it off. I've highlighted his drug use to his employer, who sacked him, his contact for volunteer work as it's with children and now to a lawyer for everything as it's now going to court for contact for my baby! I'm afraid to say that some leopards just don't change their spots, even when they are given the chance and opportunity to change their life whether it be the truthfully or dishonestly!
DWT
December 17, 2013 at 20:54
Here is my plight. When I was 19, I was given a deferred adjudication for possession of marijuana. The original charge was a felony with intent to distribute. I went through my probation and all of that, paid my fines, did the good thing. Never been in trouble since. Just graduated from college with a BS in Medical Technology. I just now realize, I may never be able to even use that degree. I have to apply for internships. They all ask about your criminal background. If they ask if I were ever convicted of crime, I can say no. But when I go to get certification, they will want to know ANY prior record. Here I am, after straightening out my life, 15 years later, and I may have just wasted 40,000 dollars on school. I am going to be at their mercy. I don't have the money to pay a lawyer to expunge it off my record.
Nelly
December 21, 2013 at 11:48
Are the Romanian's and Bulgarian's criminal convictions going to be disclosed also? Or not only are they hereto earn triple/quadruple wages but they can also leave their criminal convictions behind?
Pratt Community
January 27, 2014 at 12:49
Your higher education encounter identifies you together with can help mold you into that employable particular person all suppliers are in search of. However it is you that helps yourself along the way by seeking and learning knowledge and understanding inside your picked out field. This can be the way you become pleasing to organizations who are searhing for someone that recognizes what they are doing or are likely to learn about their profession out and about.
ravel
February 11, 2014 at 11:30
well the comments on this website have made me both, cringe and laugh out loud. i do emphasize with everyone who is dealing with the "criminal conviction syndrome" i thought seen as society loves to put a label on every thing i may as well put one on this. i have and still are under going the same problem. i hold a teaching degree, am a lovely person but hold a criminal record. one for a shop lifting incident i didn't even do and another for assaulting a police officer (IN MY DEFENSE THEY HAD NOTHING ON ME BUT LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER AND SAID SO CALLOUSLY "SO WHAT SHALL WE ARREST THEM FOR ANYWAY". I hate how police exploit there power!!! its wrong and they are affecting innocent lives and all for what?? most of the time there decisions are biased and because they have the power they can act how they please. but even the greatest can fall... Nelly you have had me in stitches its true what you are saying about the job centre but what can we do, we live in a corrupt world the poor are kept down while the rich succeed. but what is evident is the fact that a lot of able people are kept down in society, we are not allowed to make mistakes it appears and even when we do we are frowned upon but no one is perfect! and it just goes to show what type of value system Britain holds. they brain wash and manipulate kids into believing the world is your oyster!! kids are taught to respect, forgive and to love at schools (they are taught everything apart from reality) so when you actually grow up and have to live in the real world you get a major shock!! life is not all happy faces and roses and i think kids need to learn this from an early age. The government along with any other hierarchy institution are corrupt and will always be so, there are things happening under cover that we will mostly never know about or even comprehend. All i know is good will always prevail no matter what and at least us that are experiencing the trails and tribulations that we are know what living is really about, take your mess to god trust me he sees what we are all going through and believe me he is working on our behalf just have a little faith in both yourself and the most high and never give up. It is easier said than done, but nothing in life that is worth while is supposed to be easy, if it was we would never learn anything worth while. DO NOT LET YOUR PROBLEMS DEFINE WHO YOU ARE.
sarah
March 29, 2014 at 22:39
my husband was put on the low risk sex offender register for pics and tapes set up by his ex 10 years ago.He has no evidence after that or proof that he is a danger to society.Is there a way he can prove his innocence and take him off the register??
Emil
April 3, 2014 at 23:54
I have recently received two great offers - £70k/year from Hitachi Consulting and slightly more from EY. My criminal record expires in less than 6 weeks and ... they both withdrew the job offers. And they both claim not to discriminate ex-offenders. I don't know what I should do.
Simon J
May 25, 2014 at 03:14
I really don't understand the unspent / spent conviction system at all, nor why you can be discriminated against without being given a chance to provide relevant information to support your application. It is just an arbitrary way of labeling people as bad / untrustworthy based on a supposed 'fact' that may not be in any way corroborated by anything else in their history. It is nonsensical unless it is considered simply as an attempt to promote the supposed 'infallibility' of the criminal justice system. How can the passing of a fixed period of time starting at conviction be taken as proof that a person has learnt their lesson / reformed, or a much longer period between (alleged) offence and conviction completely disregarded? I was convicted 9 years ago of something I am alleged to have committed about 20 years prior to that, when I was a minor. Because of this conviction it is unlikely that I will ever be allowed to visit the US again despite the fact that a statute of limitations applies in their own justice system because they recognise the impossibility of proving a case after that much time has elapsed without physical evidence. In the intervening 20 odd years I have had multiple chances to 'repeat' offend and yet this is not even considered when I was given the standard 10 years rehabilitation period (now reduced to 7 years) from the date of my conviction based on my 2 year sentence. To appeal against my conviction I would actually have to have the tangible proof that was not required to prosecute and convict me. I fell foul of the police's 'we look after our own' policy and the complicity of the CPS (who are fully prepared to do favours for their 'mates') and ended up at the dubious mercy of a jury who undoubtedly applied the precautionary principle. Why do juries not have to show they have adhered to the 'reasonable doubt' instruction when deciding their verdict? The only advice I can give is that which friends who are part of the Criminal Justice System gave me after the event - do not try to accept responsibility for anything even if it falls well short of criminal behaviour, because there is always a risk that someone with a vested interest will simply suggest that extrapolation from that admission is reasonable. I have been able to get employment for periods since my release from prison (due to redundancy and a subsequent financially ruinous role I am now back in the ranks of the unemployed) but it really is a complete lottery that is wholly dependent on the attitude of employers who generally have no more experience of the vagaries of the Criminal Justice System than the average person (which is pretty much nil). You have to be extremely lucky even to get the chance to state your case. Maintain your innocence and you are labeled a 'denier' and punished by being barred from acquiring the highest status as an inmate; have a conviction and insurance firms can legally extort money from you even if your insurance history is immaculate; be open and honest as you attempt to resume your previous role as a productive member of society and run the risk of not even being given a fighting chance. Most fair-minded people are horrified when they realise that rehabilitation is an empty promise (plenty of employers admit they would automatically discount a candidate with a conviction even when it is technically illegal to do so) but very little of a practical nature is done to address this. In many ways I am proud of our country, but our much vaunted Criminal Justice System lacks a level of regulation / accountability that is commensurate with the devastating effect it can have on people who have no intent other than to live a normal life.
1. Sid Thurlow
  August 21, 2017 at 15:03
  Well said indeed! Hear-Hear! You have my deepest sympathies and respect. You are very obviously a capable and educated person, I would be astonished if somebody that is capable of writing such a well constructed and informative narrative remains unemployed for very long at all. If I may offer something in response to your post.... be persistent and resolute in your job search, often in times such as this you will look back upon eventually finding the right job and be thankful that prior job applications were unsuccessful, if you had not been poorly treated and unfairly persecuted then you would not have applied for and secured the dream job you now find yourself in. Stay positive and believe in yourself.
2. Sid Thurlow
  August 21, 2017 at 15:07
  DOH! I have just realised that I was responding to a post written in May 2014! Haha well I guess you can look at my comments and immediately recognise if they hold any merit. Haha sorry about that! What a donut!
Buzzword
December 4, 2014 at 12:09
Hey Guys, You all have powerful stories to tell. No one really comprehends the injustice of a system that grinds you into the ground until they fall victim to it, or of the collateral damage to families and children innocently caught up in a sequence of repeated punishment. If you are interested in trying to fight the institutional propaganda that propagates this discrimination by making your story heard and could submit a story between 1,000 and 5,000 words, then please contact me. I have been struck by the eloquence and intelligence of the contributions I have read on here and the tenacity of you all. What an absolute waste of talent ! Although some of you are still acutely aware of the stigma and embarrassment attached to things that may have happened many years ago, don't let that stop you having your voice now. Apart from sharing your stories, I would urge everyone, family and friends included, to contact your local MP ( + Euro) and the PM and to write to all cross party members about this abusive system. Next year is election year and parties will be point scoring off each other. It seems the perfect time to campaign against this institutionalised bullying.
Nelly
December 20, 2014 at 02:46
Buzzword, How can I get the tine to do the above? My household is a single household besides my teenage son, and I don't want to poison him so earlier in life! As a single household it's only 1 person trying to juggle all the balls and trying to make ends meet. In order to do that I have to find a job that will pay me the equivalent for 2 people than it's worth working otherwise it's living from pay cheque to pay cheque and what's the point of killing yourself in order of saving someone else money? If I am not better off working than there's no point working. Lets put the barriers caused by criminal convictions to one side for a moment. The years where all households were. made of 2 people are over, yet despite the fact that cost of living is increasing so bad, politicians are turning a blind eye on this issue and instead they just want us to work more and more hours as days go by. If you say you work part time they will say work full time then you won't struggle, if you work full-time they will tell you do over-time, if you do over-time they will tell you do double time! ie 2 shifts. How many hours a person is supposed to work a day? How many hours of work are going to classed as "enough"? The day has 24 hrs only! They even made us to opt out of the 38 hrs/week. What's next? Opt out of sleeping? They will want us to work more and more hours, the last thing on their mind is to increase the wages, London living wage is just over £8/hr, how many employer out there are paying that? If they are not, who's letting them get away with it? Whilst you had to work let's say 10 hrs in order to do your weekly shopping, now you have to work twice the time to buy the same amount/things although quality is going down as we have seen over the years as Mr Fat Fish is trying to maximize profit. So as you can see, the willingness is there but I have to leave it to those who have back up because as 1 person, I have too much on my plate!
Nelly
December 20, 2014 at 03:17
I strongly believe it's time we as the British people open our mouths and start speaking rather than "cringe" ! We can't open our mouth but yet we mourn when others have the guts to claim their rights, we get bitter and complain: Bulgarians are here taking our jobs, getting paid more than us, they are smart, why would you live in poverty when 1-2 hrs flight will allow you to get out of poverty. Instead of blaming others for being smart why don't we do something about it instead of getting busy with cringing when others are rocking the boat? If you can't stand the heat, you ? ...
Nelly
February 18, 2015 at 20:36
Can any one tell me what will be the end of this car insurance premiums that are sky rocketing every year? I don't get anything towards the little hatchback I own, I know what I have to go trough to keep the car and the sacrifices I have to make in order to keep up with the cost of keeping a car. Yet the Job Centre and Work program people want to know if I own a car, none of their business because as far as I know I own the car and nobody is sharing the cost. You go in elderly care as a care, the 1st thing they ask you is do you own a car? if you say yes, you see a smile on their face, they exploit you for your car and pay you £8-9/hr and 35p-40p/mile, that pays for fuel, oil, tyres, MOT, insurance, Road tax and all tear and wear! I'm sure the car insurers are blaming it on all "injury claims" that people are making, well who bags most of the cash? the innocent driver who was handed £1500 or those who get paid £150/hr excl VAT? Behind the scenes, they love the whole idea! The day I will not be able to afford car insurance, I will just get rid of the car and save my money, no more headache and no more parking fines, Mr Fat Fish can keep up after all he's not affected by anything really never mind car insurance premium! Our Politicians have lost it!
Pauline
February 23, 2015 at 09:31
What an astonishing article, and even more than that, comment thread! The problem is not restricted simply to those with cautions and criminal convictions, but also those who have had any kind of disagreement with their employer. I've got a list of LinkedIn recommendations from work at my last 10 employers (over 20 years) and e-mails praising my work at my last employer as long as my arm, but due to a disagreement with my last manager, I've been unable to find employment for over 6 months. A recruitment consultant let slip recently that, despite my impressive CV, I had failed to get a contrat (paying £400/day) because the prospective client has 'asked around and been advised not to work with me'. I have virtually given up finding new employment, and am working on self-employment opportunities.
mark
February 26, 2015 at 00:07
Couldnt agree more, just set up on your own, even if its only market trading or cleaning windows or something
Ruby
April 13, 2015 at 20:57
if you get convicted and released can you still have biological kids or will the government take them away?
1. Nelly
  May 3, 2015 at 16:49
  Ruby, in UK, the government will only take kids from you if you are unable to look after them. Eg: bad patenting or if someone is going in prison and there is an under age child and no suitabke relatives to look after the child. If someone is released from prison I don't see why they would take your child or prevent you from having one unless they told you that you pose a danger to kids and are not allowed to have one.
Nelly
May 4, 2015 at 02:27
Ruby, For the legal jargon best to ask NACRO Tel: 0300 123 1999 0207 840 64 64 Email: helpline@nacro.org.UK
1. Dave H.
  June 1, 2015 at 15:05
  Nice work Nelly.
Nelly
June 18, 2015 at 05:29
Dave, You are welcome, I don't know how useful they are, I haven't calked them yet but I thought I'll put it up here, might be helpful to others.
Richard Cornell
June 28, 2015 at 01:20
Nice response. Interesting when you wrote about the US. The US is a place where you can get lost in. People with interesting backgrounds fly into a Central or South American country then head for the Mexican/American border. It is an open border. That is how ISIL gets into the US. How many from Ireland that were in the IRA are now living in the USA? Hundreds. They came directly from Ireland via Mexico. They lived in Chicago, New York and Boston they blend in. It is the same as other criminals from around the world seek the comfort of the US where if you do not do stupid things they can get a job, low skill but a job, get a job through a employment agency that hires only day laborers. When it comes to housing it is against the law to ask to much about a person background as long as they have the money they get an apartment. The US is a dumping ground for governments who find that some of their citizens should be told to take a trip to the US and stay.
1. Ancora Imparo
  March 10, 2016 at 05:49
  What?! I don't what U.S. you're talking about, but that's not what I've experienced. We have more people in jails and prisons than any country in the world. We also have more regulations and laws than any country in the world. Yes, if you "don't do anything stupid" (some would consider a 'criminal record' - 'doing something stupid'). But if you come into this country as an 'illegal', there are probably lots of nooks and crannies you can hide in (w/ plenty of 'under the radar' jobs you can do). If you want to live like a cockroach- hiding when someone throws on the light- I guess it's possible. But if you want the 'American Dream' (which really doesn't exist much any more- esp. for those nearly 70 million entangled in the legal system), you can't have any 'dirt' on you, of any kind. Unless it's not 'on paper'.
Nelly
June 29, 2015 at 02:00
My understanding is that getting in the US officially when you have a criminal record is a No! No! So perhaps that explains why genuine travellers have no choice than using alternatives. For instance, I am not a criminal but by the computer I am because I have a criminal record and since it's for stealing money, apparently I cannot be. allowed inti the US and also I heard that convictions don't get "spent" as far as the US immigration is conserved.
Nelly
July 5, 2015 at 03:22
Just found the link below, if you want to know about this "spent " business, check it out! https://www.gov.uk/exoffenders-and-employment
Ancora Imparo
July 29, 2015 at 23:23
Here in the states, misdemeanors stay on your record for life, and can be used against you for life; spent or not. We have more people in jails and prisons than any country in the world. Is it any wonder?!
Aj
August 18, 2015 at 19:12
I have a question- My fiancé, who has a criminal conviction that will never be spent, found a job on his own merit, before they asked him to fill out the paperwork outlining if he had a conviction or not. After he filled in the application honestly and said he had a conviction and explained the situation, they said that it would be okay, and that their would be no problem. The next day, they changed the terms of his job and said that he could only work on a 3 months fixed contract pending how thing go. Is this discrimination and can and should we take it to another level?
Nelly
October 6, 2015 at 20:54
Aj, I have seen it and experienced it all so I know what you mean, my advise to you is be smart and play the "game", act instead of reacting, take the opportunity, count yourself lucky for the fact that they are willing to give you a try for 3 months. Even if they don't extend the contract, you will at least have a 3 months reference and you will get to prove that nothing went wrong in that time. Although we know the discrimination surrounding the issue, you have to keep an open mind also because some employer genuinely want to give you a chance but also have to protect their services/customers.
Nelly
October 6, 2015 at 21:13
P.S Before thinking about taking these matters "to another level", are you going to succeed? The employer will say we are not discriminating, it's about risk assessment, which they have to do, so of course some use this to discriminate but that's how it is.
OA
May 26, 2016 at 21:10
You don't have to have a criminal record to be an offender, because as criminologists and academic have known for a long time, most people who have contravened the law do not get caught. Hence, most offenses do not lead to criminal records. Therefore, not everyone without a criminal record is reliable and not everyone with a criminal record is unreliable. In many cases, you can't prove reliability because it is impossible to disprove that a given person has offended. In fact, criminologists maintain that most of us have gone against the law at least once, either intentionally or unintentionally. If I was a hiring manager, I would be just as skeptical of the one who says he lacks a criminal record as compared to the one who discloses a criminal record.
Harvey Brewer
June 1, 2016 at 11:16
I agree that the system is unfair (unjust, in fact) and I deplore the sluggish pace at which changes take place. Is the "system" at fault? Are die-hard conservatives at fault? Whatever the reason, changes to the justice system (and there are probably many) should be effected swiftly. I mean, now. Dragging things out only serves to give bureaucrats and lawyers more to do and to receive their unjustified salaries.
Sid Thurlow
August 21, 2017 at 14:35
Great article followed by some really interesting comments and observations. I am 45 years old and I have over 120 criminal convictions, I have served numerous prison terms wasting somewhere in the region of 5 years of my life behind bars. A lot of my convictions are petty and pathetic and all of my crimes have been either thrill seeking or crimes of dishonesty to feed a serious drug addiction, drug possession and supply also. I have never been sentenced to more than 2.5 years, very close to but not more than so now that I am 10 years free of conviction all of my crimes are now considered 'spent'. I spent over 15 years fighting with a life completely locked in the revolving door that is 'Crime-Addiction-Prison', fortunately through a combination of finding God, God blessing me with an amazing Wife, God blessing me with an amazing support network and being wise enough to see the importance of moving to a new geographical location I have managed to make it to 10 years conviction free. I have learned so much through the experiences I have had during my criminal life and my life of rehabilitation, I am a well presented, extremely personable easy to talk to individual, I am desperate to help young men and women that are struggling with the exact things that I have struggled with but the system that you have all been commenting on makes this impossible for me. Even though my convictions are now described as 'spent' they may as well not be, because the individuals that would benefit from my experience, my advice, my care and most importantly my love are labelled 'vulnerable adults' any person applying to work alongside these people must be subject to an Enhanced Criminal Records Check with the Disclosure and Barring service and this ENHANCED version of the Criminal Record Check removes the relevance of the term 'Spent' so consequently I find that the very experiences and struggles that my life has been exposed to that make me not only qualified to advise and empathise with these neglected and marginalised members of our communities but they give me credibility in the eyes of those listening, well these experiences are ironically the very reasons cited by our governing bodies as to why I must be rejected from the application process regarding any potential employment or even voluntary position where I might be able to guide or help any of these unfortunate troubled people. It breaks my heart that the life I have had might go to waste when I am desperate to use it to save others from having to struggle in the same way. The very thing that makes me perfect to help offenders and addicts is the thing that prevents me from doing so. I pray that God might make clear a path for me and others like me to be allowed to assist in helping in the process that may spare others from wasting valuable years locked in that 'Crime-Addiction-Prison' cycle. I would be so grateful if anybody has any helpful comments. Thank you and God bless.