Enhanced Disclosure Checks.

[scoob101]

Hi, I have just been invited to an interview for a new job in a college, on one of the forms they are asking me about any criminal convictions or warnings, and that an enhanced disclosure check will need to be carried out before an offer of employment.
My question is how far back do these checks go, I have 2 convictions the first 24 years ago for fighting outside a club when I was 19, for which I was fined and the second 21 years ago for drunk and disorderly again for which I was fined. Both were court appearances.
Thanks in advance.

[dotty.]

well the relevent act was in 1997,
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/what-is-disclosure/detail-check/#enhanced-disclosures
there is the 'spent' list here
http://www.criminalrecordchecks.co.uk/faqs-crb.htm#spentunspentconvictions

[ronnietoon]

yes they will appear but with the fact they were so long ago the college will/might look into making an exception

good luck

[boxtops]

A lot of the information (to my surprise) is at the discretion of the police officer drawing up the report - as these thing were that long ago, I'd hope that they would be discounted. If it was less than 10 years ago, it would almost certainly show.

[EDDIE51]

I have an enhanced disclosure it showed a fine for a defective number plate light from 15 years ago. I still got the job .

[Bluestone]

Just be honest. Don't miss it out, in the hope it won't show up, because if it does then you can kiss the job goodbye. It was so long ago, that they'll probably not hold it against you.
I doubt you'll get an invite to any office parties, though... :P

[scoob101]

Thanks Dotty, does this mean that on the form they have sent me I can put no convictions on it and nothing will come up on the check that they receive? I am not looking to deceive anyone but do not want to jeopardise any chance for a stupid couple of mistakes I made in my late teens and early twenties.

[EDDIE51]

Yes, admit them but say they were when you were young and stupid.
They are not likely to refuse you the job for something so long ago.

[boxtops]

No it doesn't - please read the other answers - you are far better off declaring convictions which may well be spent. If you don't declare them, and they come up on the ECRB report, it looks as if you are trying to hide something.

[scoob101]

Thanks guys for the responses, and I think honesty will be the best policy and just hope they see that it was young stupidity and not who I am now.

[dotty.]

i think if they were fines at a magistrates court and not custodial i would perhaps leave them out, but others above disagree.

[Bluestone]

Let us know how you get on, Scoob :-)

[boxtops]

I wouldn't, dotty - I have organised these in the past as part of my job, and it can go against people if they don't declare them.

[dotty.]

how far back does the computer record go though?

[boxtops]

That, I don't know these days.

[dotty.]

ooo this looks a good site
http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/2006/08/16/criminal-records-bureau-enhanc.html

[scoob101]

Got the interview and presentation on Wednesday and I will let you know how I get on. The job is totally different to what I have done all my working life, I have been installing plumbing and heating since I left school and this job is to train the next lot of plumbers, something I think I would be really good at with the wide experience of the trade I have, bit nervous though never been to an iterview before.

[EDDIE51]

dotty, the problem is that they almost certainly WILL show up.
So if scoob101 does not admit to them they will almost certainly refuse him a job as he would be a proven lier. On the other hand if he says something like '' Just a couple of fines when I was young and daft'' they will probably ignore them.
Remember even being arrested but released without charge can show on an enhanced CRB disclosure ! as can a formal warning or caution.

[Bluestone]

That sounds like a great move, Scoob.
Good luck! :-)

[dotty.]

particularly this bit

On 18th July 2008, the Information Tribunal made an important ruling regarding old (25 year or longer) criminal records and the Police National Computer.

In three cases, they have decided that although the data is not to be deleted, it will not be allowed to be used for non-Police operational purposes e.g. employment vetting checks via the Criminal Records Bureau.

[Sparkles62]

I work with disabled children and have an enhanced disclosure done every three years, I was told that convictions stay on record for ever, but , depending on the nature of the job, and the type of convictions, they can be overlooked as not relevent any more. I would go for it, be honest, and good luck, I hope you get your job. X