How concerned should I be regarding CRB checks?

winston_of_airstrip_one

Some years in the past, I was a convicted of a criminal offence and was sentenced to a number of months in custody. For the sake of seeking advice, my offence was non-financial, violent or sexual; essentially it was victimless, although it is not yet 'spent' and is not an issue I will ever be prepared to disclose.

A number of years have since passed and I have completed an engineering degree and in some time in the future, I will be seeking employment (UK or abroad), most likely as an engineering design consultant.

I deliberately chose a career in engineering as it is not one of the caring, financial or teaching professions, and I reasoned that an engineering company may be less likely to scrutinise my background. However, I am concerned that if a UK company checks my background, the results would be detrimental to any future employment I may seek in the UK, thus naturally I am considering my reduced options carefully.

Based on the fact I have obtained a criminal record, the massive use of CRB checks and personal risks to myself, should I bother seeking employment in the UK?

Finally I will not declare this under any circumstances (please don't suggest it as a solution) and currently and for the next few years, I would not be in the position to pass the most basic kind of CRB check.

ViolaLass

winston_of_airstrip_one wrote: »

Based on the fact I have obtained a criminal record, the massive use of CRB checks and personal risks to myself, should I bother seeking employment in the UK?

If you won't be working with vulnerable people, I don't see the issue.

My husband used to be a BT engineer, for example, and was not CRB checked for that job.

Of course, a company might choose to check but I would have thought there would be plenty that wouldn't if not directly relevant to the job.

scooby088

Were you convicted in the UK? Plus a CRB check is not only for those professions you listed, it seems a CRB is being asked for warehouse jobs now too.

winston_of_airstrip_one

ViolaLass wrote: »

If you won't be working with vulnerable people, I don't see the issue.

My husband used to be a BT engineer, for example, and was not CRB checked for that job.

Of course, a company might choose to check but I would have thought there would be plenty that wouldn't if not directly relevant to the job.

Could you kindly tell me what your husbands work entailed (office or site work?). I presume he does not have a CR?

scooby088 wrote: »

Were you convicted in the UK? Plus a CRB check is not only for those professions you listed, it seems a CRB is being asked for warehouse jobs now too.

Yes I was convicted in the UK. I am aware that CRB checks are not confined to the professions I listed.

denla

CRB is for all skilled jobs or positions of responsibility nowadays. You won't get any where. What were you convicted for? Molesting a vacuum cleaner?

winston_of_airstrip_one

denla wrote: »

CRB is for all skilled jobs or positions of responsibility nowadays. You won't get any where.

I think this is true.

What were you convicted for? Molesting a vacuum cleaner?

Making a fool of the state, they didn't approve.

scooby088

If the conviction is nearly spent then that'll be ok, but if you had a caution like I have then that will be on your records for life.

marybelle01

A number of employers, including some of those recruiting for employers abroad, undertake background checks, and these would at best, show a serious and unaccountable gap in your history. A large number of the firms undertaking these checks also have access to records of convictions - something quite different to CRB checks, but which is data in the public domain, or which has been in the public domain, and which details convictions of private individuals. This form of data is never "spent" - if they have it they will use it. The only way, therefore, to be certain you will never have to disclose the information is to never apply for any sort of job which involves any form of check - CRB, security screening or background chacks.

denla

winston_of_airstrip_one wrote: »

I think this is true.



Making a fool of the state, they didn't approve.

Verbally insulting someone representing the state is different to urinating on the grave stone of a war hero. Makes me wonder what you really did. Some employers don't think much of it if you just slandered a district judge for example. Might as well declare your conviction cause you will be found out and sacked if you lie.

ViolaLass

winston_of_airstrip_one wrote: »

Could you kindly tell me what your husbands work entailed (office or site work?). I presume he does not have a CR?

It was going into people's houses (fixing phone lines etc) so there could even be an argument that he should have been checked but he wasn't. Can't promise that hasn't changed though as he left about 4 years ago. He does not have a CR.

ViolaLass

DVardysShadow wrote: »

There are loopholes, but companies do not have a right to check unless there is an Order in place to permit checking for the occupation. Indeed, I think that they should not check unless they are required to check.

My mistake, thanks for correcting me. Now that cleaners can be CRB checked too, I was under the impression that pretty much anyone could ask for it.