Criminal Record Bureau Checks

astonsmummy

Taken form here http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=313
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 applies to England, Scotland and Wales, and is aimed at helping people who have been convicted of a criminal offence and who have not re-offended since.

Anyone who has been convicted of a criminal offence, and received a sentence of not more than 2.5 years in prison, benefits as a result of the Act, if he or she is not convicted again during a specified period otherwise known as the 'rehabilitation period’. The length of this period depends on the sentence given for the original offence and runs from the date of the conviction. If the person does not re-offend during this rehabilitation period, they become a ‘rehabilitated person’, and their conviction becomes ‘spent’.

For example, if a person receives a sentence of imprisonment or detention in a young offenders institute of between 6 months and 2.5 years, the rehabilitation period is 10 years, or 5 years if the individual was under 18 at the time of conviction. For an absolute discharge the rehabilitation period is six months.

Sentences can carry fixed or variable rehabilitation periods and these periods can be extended if the person offends again during the rehabilitation period. However, if the sentence is more that 2.5 years in prison the conviction never becomes ‘spent’. It is the sentence imposed by the courts that counts, even if it is a suspended sentence, not the time actually spent in prison.

Once a conviction is ‘spent’, the convicted person does not have to reveal it or admit its existence in most circumstances. However, there are some exceptions relating to employment and these are listed in the Exceptions order to the ROA. The two main exceptions relate to working with children or working with the elderly or sick people. If a person wants to apply for a position that involves working with children or working with the elderly or sick people they are required to reveal all convictions, both spent and unspent. As the CRB checks are only available for those applying for positions involving working with children, or working with the elderly or sick people, the checks will reveal both spent and unspent convictions.

Oscar

ts_aly2000 wrote:

You mean that when I was 11 years old and got a caution for ripping a bus seat with a mysterious knife that I APPARENTLY had that looked mysteriously like a child's finger, that'll be on my CRB?

A lot of Juvenile(sp?) crimes are dealt with in house. However some will still show on a criminal record the more serious I would think.

astonsmummy

ts_aly2000 wrote:

I'm an adult escort and pornography model.

i doubt it will then, seeing as you wont be working with children or vunerable adults

iolanthe07

Very silly set up. Why do I need 5 CRB checks to prove I'm ok? The only people who benefit are the CRB people who charge £38 a time. At the moment I am having to wait 4-6 weeks till I can work despite having valid checks!!!

The reason you need multiple checks when you apply for different jobs (or voluntary/charity work) is the Data Protection Act. For example, if you are a teacher during the week and a Sunday School superintendant at weekends you will need CRB checks from both the LEA and the church because they are not allowed to exchange data. Same goes for potential employers. You don't have to pay the fee if the work you are doing is voluntary (unpaid).

Broken_hearted

What job do I do well now I'm a full time carer so I don't work. I do however still help as a parent reader and member of the PTA running school events, plus I used to help run a playgroup. All of which require a full police check.

astonsmummy

looks like things changed from the last time you applied then.

kai666

iolanthe07 wrote:

Very silly set up. Why do I need 5 CRB checks to prove I'm ok? The only people who benefit are the CRB people who charge £38 a time. At the moment I am having to wait 4-6 weeks till I can work despite having valid checks!!!

The reason you need multiple checks when you apply for different jobs (or voluntary/charity work) is the Data Protection Act. For example, if you are a teacher during the week and a Sunday School superintendant at weekends you will need CRB checks from both the LEA and the church because they are not allowed to exchange data. Same goes for potential employers. You don't have to pay the fee if the work you are doing is voluntary (unpaid).

While i appreciate the importance of having CRB checks carried out, and the reasons why so many are carried out, but it is really annoying not being able to work despite having 2 valid CRB checks.

I was told by a social care agency that they are (or were when told) transferrable, but organisations don't like to transfer them, as they have purchased them, they don't see why other organisations should get the use from them without having to pay.

tobedifferent

My employer let me start work before my CRB arrived but I was not allowed unsupervised contact with customers and if my check showed convictions my contract would be void. Could you new role not do this? I guess it depends on what the job is, I worked in Fraud Investigations and the CRB is mainly to prove I am of good charecter.

Enhanced disclosures show all convictions even if spent, but the job must be exempt under the rehabilitation of offenders act.

However, minor convictions will be deleted from records after a certain length of time and won't appear as they no longer exist as far as the police computer is concerned. Although if you have committed further offences they remain I think...

mikewebs

Hi There
Can I take the time just to thank you all for your replies.

CHeers!