What we do
Unlock is an independent award-winning national charity that provides a voice and support for people with convictions who are facing stigma and obstacles because of their criminal record, often long after they have served their sentence.Firstly, we help people to move on positively with their lives by empowering them with information, advice and support to overcome the stigma of their previous convictions.
Secondly, we seek to promote a fairer and more inclusive society by challenging discriminatory practices and promoting socially just alternatives.
What does this mean in practice?
Worried about your criminal record? We provide advice & support.
Support us
There are over 11 million people in the UK with a criminal record.Unlock helps people overcome past difficulties and move forward with hope to make a positive contribution to society.
There are a number of ways to support us. HELP US NOW! Thank you.


News: Criminal records
VIEW ALL -Unlock comment: Recruitment & Employment Confederation becomes Ban the Box employer
Commenting on today’s news that the Recruitment & Employment Confederation has become a Ban...Blog – The answer to Oxfam’s safeguarding problems is not enhanced DBS checks
The latest blog by Christopher Stacey (published on the Huffington Post) questions the use of e...Basic criminal record checks launched today by the DBS
From today, the 17th January 2018, basic criminal record checks can now be obtained directly fr...
Latest @ Unlock
VIEW ALL -Unlock submission on proposals to amend disclosure rules in Scotland
Unlock has made a submission to the Scottish Government in response to their call for views on ...Job vacancy at Unlock – Policy & practice lead
About the role This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional individual with proven experi...Unlock comment: High Court judgment on ‘Right to be Forgotten’ and spent convictions case
Commenting on the High Court ruling on the Right to be Forgotten and spent convictions case, Ch...Spring 2018 newsletter – What we’ve been up to
Today we’ve published our spring 18 newsletter. The newsletter provides an update of the ...

Latest news about criminal records
Catch up on the latest news, articles and media about criminal records by reading our latest posts to Scoop.it!
Find out more about our training courses
Criminal record disclosure training for practitioners
We deliver 'criminal record disclosure' training as open courses and in-house sessions to help front-line practitioners provide accurate, effective advice. Dates now available for 2018
See how you can help us in our policy and campaign work
Help us with our policy and campaign work
We're looking for evidence to support key policy issues we're working on, including employers that carry out ineligible checks, and the 'google effect'. There are other ways to help too, including writing to your MP and donating to us.
Visit the information site
The country's most comprehensive source of practical self-help information for people with convictions on a wide range of issues that criminal convictions can affect
Visit the disclosure calculator
An online tool that works out when your convictions are spent and so don't need to be disclosed to most employers and insurers
Visit the online magazine
The online magazine for law-abiding people with convictions - share news, views and personal stories about life with a conviction
Find out more about our helpline
We give confidential peer advice by telephone, email and other ways. We focus on helping people overcome the effects of their criminal record.
Visit the online forum
A self-supporting community for law-abiding people with convictions - share information, advice and experience on moving on with a criminal record.
Visit Recruit!, our website for employers
There's a talent pool of over 10.5 million people that you might be overlooking. People with criminal records make good employees. Make sure you're not missing out. Recruit! is a website from Unlock that supports UK employers to recruit people with convictions and helps them to deal with criminal records fairly.Recent developments
VIEW ALL -- 22/04/2018in News @ Unlock, Unlock publications, Way ROA works, When spent
Unlock submission on proposals to amend disclosure rules in Scotland
Unlock has made a submission to the Scottish Government in response to their call for views on the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Bill. The focus of our response is on Part 2 of the Bill – Disclosure of convictions. Download Unlock’s submission.... - 19/04/2018in Employment discrimination, Get involved, Latest, News @ Unlock, News & Media, Vacancies
Job vacancy at Unlock – Policy & practice lead
About the role This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional individual with proven experience and potential to take on a senior role in a small team and lead our work in increasing the employment of people with criminal records by supporting and challenging employers to change their recruitment policies and practices, working to prevent... - 13/04/2018in Google, Latest, News @ Unlock, News & Media, Press releases and comment
Unlock comment: High Court judgment on ‘Right to be Forgotten’ and spent convictions case
Commenting on the High Court ruling on the Right to be Forgotten and spent convictions case, Christopher Stacey, co-director of Unlock, a national charity for people with convictions, said: “The judgment from the High Court represents a key victory for people with a criminal record. More and more in recent years, people with spent criminal... - 05/04/2018in News @ Unlock, News & Media, Newsletters
Spring 2018 newsletter – What we’ve been up to
Today we’ve published our spring 18 newsletter. The newsletter provides an update of the news at Unlock in the last three months. It’s sent to everyone who’s on our public mailing list, and we hope it’s a useful way of keeping up to date with what we’ve been up to. Read: Spring 2018 Newsletter Previous newsletters... - 05/04/2018in Case work, Helpline, News & Media, News on Unlock's work for individuals, Support case studies
Some examples of people we’ve helped
Looking back over the last couple of months, we’ve written up a few examples of the people we’ve helped. We hope they give a good idea of how we help people. However, more importantly than our role, we think that these examples show how people with convictions are able to overcome some of the barriers... - 28/03/2018in Information Hub, News @ Unlock, News & Media
Monthly update – March 2018
We’ve just published our update for March 2018. This months update includes: Some new information providing an overview of the areas of life that can be affected by a criminal record. A link to our updated page on travelling abroad. A personal story from Margaret about her experiences of... - 26/03/2018in Childhood criminal records, Latest, News & Media, Unlocking Experience, Way DBS work, Way ROA works, What DBS disclose, When spent, Wipe the slate clean
Unlock letter to Justice Committee on Government’s response to report on youth criminal records
Unlock and the Standing Committee for Youth Justice (SCYJ) have written to the Justice Select Committee (JSC) regarding our concerns over the Government’s response to the JSC’s inquiry into the disclosure of childhood criminal records. Christopher Stacey, Co-director of Unlock, sets out our concerns that the Government is using the Supr... - 20/03/2018in Latest, News @ Unlock, News for practitioners
Criminal record disclosure training – Hurry! Just 4 tickets remaining for our May workshop – Book now!
Our popular ‘criminal record disclosure’ training workshops continue. We are now taking bookings for our ‘Advising with Conviction’ workshops which will take place on selected dates in 2018 As experts on criminal record disclosure, we provide high-quality training to front-line practitioners to ensure that they have accurate... - 01/03/2018in Employment discrimination, Latest, News & Media, News about criminal records, News for employers, Press releases and comment
Unlock comment: Recruitment & Employment Confederation becomes Ban the Box employer
Commenting on today’s news that the Recruitment & Employment Confederation has become a Ban the Box employer, Christopher Stacey, co-director of Unlock, the national charity for people with convictions, said: “Recruitment agencies are an important source of job opportunities for people with a criminal record. That’s why we’ve been working with ... - 28/02/2018in Employment discrimination, Esmee, Ineligible checks, Latest, News & Media, News about criminal records, Unlock's blog, Way DBS work, Way ROA works
Blog – The answer to Oxfam’s safeguarding problems is not enhanced DBS checks
The latest blog by Christopher Stacey (published on the Huffington Post) questions the use of enhanced DBS checks as the answer to Oxfam’s safeguarding problems. Read it here....
Feedback on our work
What people have said about us
Your helpline is doing a truly wonderful job in helping people like me who have made a mistake, paid the price, but do not want to be penalised for the rest of their lives.
Person with convictions // Client of our helpline
The forum is a great idea. We all have a story to tell and it’s good to be able to chat to people that in many respects have had similar experiences, especially in terms of trying to find a job.
Person with convictions // Member of our forum
I look forward to receiving your emails, news and updates.They are so useful. The fact that nobody else does this kind of thing makes it so important.
Person with convictions // Subscriber to our e-updates
I am tired of running away from my past. Unlock has been a critical first step in this process. You have provided me with clear, unambiguous guidance. As far as I am aware you are the only body/charity/website that offers the type of detail that is necessary for me to go forward.
Person with convictions
I would like to congratulate Unlock on achieving what some previously considered impossible. I hope that the hard work of Unlock will continue and that through that work, together we can remove some of the unnecessary obstacles faced by offenders who want to lead normal, law abiding lives.
Lord McNally, Minister of State for Justice // Speaking at the launch of our Disclosure Calculator
Thank you for all the help you have provided me to advance my Private Members Bill. The Government has accepted a good many recommendations contained in my Bill. I want you to know how much I appreciated your contribution.
The Rt Hon The Lord Dholakia // Commenting on reforms to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
When I first got in touch with you I was very low, but you gave me the emotional support and encouragement I needed. I had felt very isolated but knowing that someone else was there who knew what I was going through kept me going. I don’t know if I’d be here today if it wasn’t for Unlock.
Person with convictions // Client of our helpline
I could not believe it when I found your website this evening. I am nearly in tears... I feel absolutely fantastic, more than that, it’s like being reborn.
Person with convictions // User of our website
The new DBS site leaves a lot to be desired in terms of info. Yours is much clearer and more helpful.
Person with convictions // User of our online Information Hub
The disclosure training provided by Unlock is engaging and comprehensive. We held a REACH staff event to look specifically at the changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and staff who attended commented how useful the day had been. Whilst the principles around disclosure are a core part of any service that assists people with convictions into employment, some of the legal aspects are quite complex and I would recommend anyone who works in this field to think about completing the Unlock training to ensure they are fully up to date. This training would also be very useful for employers who wanted to inform their recruitment policies and procedures.
Carrie Peters, Director of REACH // Commenting on training provided to project workers who support people with convictions in finding sustainable employment