UNLOCK's Information & Advice
On this page:
What do we do?
What we can't do
How can we help?
Examples of the help we provide
Confidentiality
Liability
Contact us
What do we do? Back to top
We provide information and advice to anybody who has a previous conviction, or anybody who is affected by a previous conviction.
The Information & Advice area of our website is our main way of doing this, as we cover a wide variety of issues that people with convictions can face. We have tried to provide the relevant information, advice, resources and tools to help you overcome these issues.
Although we are only a small organisation, with 4 full-time members of staff, and within that, just one dedicated IAG worker, the service we provide to UNLOCK members and others who are facing problems because of previous convictions is flexible and isn't tied to a specific service-delivery contract. That means that, where often some organisations cannot help, we may be able to. However, it also means that we may be limited in the one-to-one support that we are able to provide.
The approach that we try to take in helping people overcome issues is by providing people with the information, awareness, knowledge and ability to do things for themselves. In some cases, we are able to advocate on behalf on individuals, but we will always try to empower individuals wherever possible.
The most important thing to consider when faced with a problem and looking for UNLOCK's help is to look at UNLOCK's ultimate aim: to achieve equality for reformed offenders.
What is within UNLOCK's remit? - Issues that people face because they have a previous criminal conviction
In these instances, we will be able to provide information & advice and, where appropriate, suggest appropriate actions/next steps, provide support, and point you towards the most appropriate contacts. Examples include:
- You have been dismissed because of a criminal conviction
- You are not sure whether your conviction is spent
- You would like to know how to find out about your criminal record
- You have been refused insurance because of a spent conviction
What we can't do Back to top
We cannot provide legal advice, representation, or help with miscarriage of justice cases.
Also, as we are a small charity, we cannot visit clients in person or arrange appointments for people to visit our office. Our information and advice is generally provided by telephone, email and letter.
We are also limited in how we can help with issues that fall outside of our remit as a charity.
What is outside UNLOCK's remit? - Issues that people would face even if they didn't have a criminal conviction
In these instances, we will try and give you some advice, and may be able to suggest some possible next steps, but may have to refer you to specialist organisations which are able to help directly. Examples include
- You cannot get a bank account because you don't have a previous address
- You cannot get insurance because you don't have an income
- You cannot get rent a house because you don't have enough for a deposit
- You cannot get a job because you lack the necessary qualifications
There is a lot of work undertaken by organisations, specifically in the area of prisons and probation, around resettlement.
This work is often delivered by way of contracts to organisations which provide particular services.
UNLOCK are not a service-delivery organisation, and so do not compete to deliver these contracts. Therefore, where possible, we will try to link you in to services and organisations which are designed to help with particular issues. Where these organisations are not able to help, we may be able to.
How can we help? Back to top
If you are an individual
Firstly, take a look at the Information & Advice section on the UNLOCK website. This is split down into various sections, including banking, insurance, employment, disclosure, education and travel.
Each section includes details information & advice, as well as links to useful organisations, resources and publications.
If you are a serving prisoner, you may want to ask your personal officer, somebody in education or resettlement, or a family member, to take a look on our website and print off the relevant information.
You may also wish to sign up to become an UNLOCK member to receive our monthly e-newsletter. This is put together specifically for people with previous convictions.
If you cannot find the answer to the problem that you are encountering, contact us using the details below.
We ask that individuals contact us directly; if family members/organisation contact us, we may need to ask the individual concerned for their permission before carrying out any work on their behalf.
We also encourage individuals to raise their complaint through official procedures before we take it any further (for example, Prison Service Complaints Procedure).
When you contact us, we will need to have sight of copies of documentation/evidence to which you are referring to. We advise that you send photocopies or duplicates of any documentation, as we are uunable to accept liability if they are lost in the post.
To help you overcome your problem, we may also need to raise your query with the appropriate organisation(s). Although we will not share your personal details without your consent, it would be helpful if, if you were happy for us to do this, you state this when you first make contact.
If you are an organisation working with individuals
You should look to make use of the information, advice, resources and links that are available on our website. Feel free to print out and share this information. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide bulk copies of our leaflets or information, and therefore appreciate your support in sharing our information with your clients so that they can get access to the information and advice that they need.
You are welcome to contact us directly, but please bear in mind that we may need to ask the individual concerned for their permission before carrying out any work on their behalf.
You are also welcome to suggest that your client gets in contact with us directly. See the above section about this.
Examples of the support we provide Back to top
- An UNLOCK Member contacted UNLOCK to inform us that he had managed to obtain a job in Ireland, which in itself was a huge achievement. However, as he was on Life Licence, he needed consent from the Lifer Unit to have his reporting conditions relaxed. Despite having the Chief Probation Officers support in his application, he had waited over 4 months for a response, which was putting his job in jeopardy because of funding arrangements. UNLOCK intervened by advocating on behalf of the UNLOCK Member with both the Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice. By using the organisations position, we were able to push the important of the application concerned, and 10 days later the UNLOCK Member received written confirmation from the Lifer Unit of the relaxed reporting requirements.
- An UNLOCK Member contacted us after he had been to the police station to sign on the Sex Offenders Register to be told that he had to do it for life. He was of the belief that it was only for 10 years. The Police were resistant to his claims. We supported him in obtaining copies of his conviction records, as well as transcripts from the court, which he then provided to the police as evidence to support his assertions. The police apologised for the confusion, and stated that it was because the records held on the PNC were inaccurate. They amended their records.
Confidentiality Back to top
UNLOCK's Information and Advice work is completely private and confidential. Any information given to UNLOCK will not be shared with anybody. The details that you provide to UNLOCK are held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
Liability Back to top UNLOCK's Information and Advice is provided on a strictly 'without-liability' basis, and should be considered for use as guidance only. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that our information & advice is as accurate as possible. However, we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness, and any liability for it is expressly excluded and disclaimed by UNLOCK.
If you propose taking further action based upon this information, you are strongly advised to consider obtaining specific professional or legal advice before doing so.
Contact us Back to top
Christopher Stacey LLB LLM | Information & Advice Manager
UNLOCK, the National Association of Reformed Offenders
35a High Street, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5AG
T: 01634 247350 ext. 202
E: chris.stacey@unlock.org.uk
We do not charge for providing information and advice.
If you are a serving prisoner, you can write to us at the above address.
We aim to respond promptly to any letters or other correspondence that we receive. however unfortunately we cannot control either the postal service or the Prison Service mail rooms. We do, nevertheless, aim to respond to all enquiries within 10 working days. If your enquiry is urgent, please feel free to give us a call to chase up your query on T: 01634 247350 and speak to Christopher Stacey.
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