Some childhood offenders may no longer have to reveal convictions to employers
Summary
The UK government has proposed changes that would reduce how long some criminal convictions from childhood appear in employment background checks in England and Wales. The plans would apply to people who do not continue offending as adults, while the most serious crimes would remain exempt from the changes.Key Facts
- The Ministry of Justice has opened a consultation on changing disclosure rules for some offences committed by children.
- Five offences committed by children—affray, violent disorder, supplying a controlled drug to a child, robbery and assault causing actual bodily harm—could stop appearing in checks after five and a half years.
- About 8,500 people under 18 were convicted of those five offences between March 2022 and March 2026, according to Ministry of Justice data.
- For offences leading to detention of less than two years, the proposal would replace lifelong disclosure with an 11-year period.
- The rules would remain unchanged for offences that led to sentences longer than two years.
- Severe violence, terrorism-related crimes and sexual offences would be excluded from the proposed reforms.
- Other proposals include reducing disclosure periods for some fines and ending disclosure for offences resolved outside court.
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