Criminal Records Disclosure
I understand and share your view that reformed offenders should not be held back by previous convictions. Figures from April 2024 showed that over 12 million people in the UK have a criminal record of some kind. I believe those who have made mistakes but have since turned their lives around should have the chance to contribute to society. Once a conviction has become spent, in my view it is right that someone is treated as rehabilitated and able to move on with their life. This means they would not need to declare the conviction when applying for most jobs or for insurance.
At the same time, it is important that the criminal records disclosure regime strikes a balance between rehabilitation and safeguarding the public. I believe that balance is currently being struck. However, please be assured that I will continue to monitor this situation for any developments.
I will continue to support measures to improve both offenders’ and ex-offenders’ access to learning and other training to help them find employment after completing their sentences. The evidence is clear that if an offender has a job within a year of release from prison, they are less likely to reoffend.
I am pleased that as part of the Government’s plan to Make Work Pay, the Employment Rights Bill will remove the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection. By making this a ‘day one’ right, millions of employees, including those with spent criminal convictions, will have protection against being arbitrarily fired by their employer.
More widely, I support the Government’s plan to act on the recommendations of the recent Independent Sentencing Review, led by former Justice Secretary David Gauke. The Sentencing Bill, which I support, is now going through Parliament, and I look forward to it becoming law in due course.