From 10 March 2014, the rehabilitation periods for criminal convictions will be reduced: Chapter 8 and Sch. 25 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
For example, a job applicant must disclosure their criminal record for 7 years from the date of conviction - if they have been sentenced to prison for up to 6 months. However, from 10 March 2014, the job applicant would only have to disclosure their criminal record for 2 years starting from the end of the sentence. The new rehabilitation periods will apply to a conviction/caution before, on, or after 10 March 2014: s. 141(1) of the Act.
A table containing the current and new rehabilitation periods can be found at the Unlock website.
For example, a job applicant must disclosure their criminal record for 7 years from the date of conviction - if they have been sentenced to prison for up to 6 months. However, from 10 March 2014, the job applicant would only have to disclosure their criminal record for 2 years starting from the end of the sentence. The new rehabilitation periods will apply to a conviction/caution before, on, or after 10 March 2014: s. 141(1) of the Act.
A table containing the current and new rehabilitation periods can be found at the Unlock website.
Source: The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Commencement No. 9, Saving Provision and Specification of Commencement Date) Order 2014.
A job applicant must always disclose a spent conviction/caution if they are applying for a certain job (e.g. a nurse). But they should not disclose a protected conviction/caution.