
Blog – Government publishes summary of responses to call for evidence on the employment of people with convictions
Last week, more than a year since the consultation closed, the Cabinet Office published a summary of responses to their Call for Evidence (CfE) on employing people with convictions. But what does this summary of responses mean for the future? This blog looks at some of the promising signs, some areas for improvement, and questions
- Published in Ban the box, Employment, Employment discrimination, Latest, News & Media

Report backs tax breaks to employers that recruit people with convictions
Commenting on a report published today by Onward, Unlocking a Better life, Christopher Stacey, co-director of Unlock, said: “As things stand, although a prison sentence can end, the impact of a criminal conviction can be felt far beyond the conclusion of any sentence. People with convictions, and especially those leaving prison, face significant stigma and
- Published in Employment, Employment discrimination, Latest, News & Media, Press releases and comment

Bloomsbury Institute breaks new ground with ban the box for staff and students
Bloomsbury Institute becomes the first higher education provider to Ban the Box for all. Bloomsbury Institute in London is the first higher education provider in the UK to adopt Ban the Box principles for staff as well as students, a move that could encourage other universities to follow suit. The Ban the Box campaign is
- Published in Employment, Latest, Press releases and comment, Universities

Unlock speaks to Radio Sussex about the findings of it’s new report and how some employers may potentially be breaking the law
Following the publication of Unlock’s A question of fairness report, Co-director Christopher Stacey speaks to Radio Sussex’s Danny Pike. The report finds that the vast majority of national companies continue to have criminal record declarations as a core part of their initial job application forms. By doing so, employers are not only potentially acting unlawfully but are also missing
- Published in Ban the box, Employment, News & Media, News for employers, Unlock in the media

Almost three-quarters of national companies continue to ask about criminal records at job application stage, new research shows
Unlock has today published new research that shows the vast majority of national companies continuing to have criminal record declarations as a core part of their initial job application forms. Marking the 5-year anniversary of the Ban the Box campaign, the findings reveal the extent to which national employers have failed to recognise the negative
- Published in Ban the box, Employment, Employment discrimination, Latest, Misleading questions, News @ Unlock, News & Media, News for employers, Press releases and comment

Our submission to the government’s call for evidence on the employment of people with convictions
Today we have submitted our written response to the government’s call for evidence on the employment for people with convictions. Download our submission here. You can find out more about the call for evidence in our recent post to encourage others to get involved. Our submission draws on work that we’ve been doing as part
- Published in Ban the box, Employment, Employment discrimination, Latest, News & Media

Get involved! Government consultation on employer practices towards people with criminal records
The Cabinet Office (in partnership with the Ministry of Justice) are calling for evidence on the employment for people with convictions, and they want to hear from employers about recruitment practices, employability initiatives and evidence/impact. As well as employers, the Cabinet Office want to hear from organisations or professionals who: work with people with convictions
- Published in Ban the box, Employment, Employment discrimination, News & Media

Unlock comment: Government announces scrapping of ‘disqualification by association’ in schools
Commenting on today’s news of changes to the childcare disqualification arrangements, Christopher Stacey, co-director of Unlock, said: “Today’s announcement to scrap the ‘disqualification by association’ rule from schools is long overdue but very welcomed. We’ve been calling for it to be scrapped for nearly 4 years because it did nothing to contribute towards safeguarding in
- Published in DBA, Latest, News @ Unlock, Press releases and comment

Case of Terence – ‘Disqualification by association’ requirements having a negative impact on individuals without a criminal record
As a result of his conviction, Terence was required to notify his public protection officer of any new relationships that he started. Shortly after meeting Lauren through friends, Terence disclosed his conviction to her and she agreed to go with him to the police station to meet his public protection officer. At that meeting, Lauren
- Published in DBA, Policy cases

Case of Sadie – University using ‘disqualification by association’ requirements inappropriately
Sadie had been studying for a teaching qualification at university when details of her new partner’s conviction for a sexual offence were disclosed on the additional information section of her enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate. On receipt of the certificate, the university immediately contacted her to inform her that it was likely she would
- Published in DBA, Policy cases

Case of Louisa – The ongoing impact of my husband’s offence – ‘Disqualified by association’
When she was 38 weeks pregnant, Louisa was told by her employer (a school) that as a result of her husband’s criminal record, she was ‘disqualified by association’ and would be suspended from her job as a teacher until she had applied for, and been granted a waiver, by Ofsted. The school provided her with
- Published in DBA, Policy cases

Case of Cheryl – The long wait to get a waiver decision from Ofsted has had a detrimental effect on me and my family
In 2017 Cheryl’s son was convicted of a sexual offence. He received a suspended sentence and was put on the Sex Offenders Register. Immediately the result of the case was known Cheryl, who was working as a primary school teacher, went to see the head teacher of her school to explain the situation. Although the
- Published in DBA, Policy cases
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