Though not relevant to dieseldick’s situation (where he will almost certainly need to undergo a security check or even a counter-terrorism check), it should be noted that generally employers cannot request a DBS check “just to be on the safe side”. The position has to be in a post that is exempt from the Rehabilitation of offenders Act (which allows “spent” convictions to be concealed). These exempt occupations and positions in general are those involved in dealing with children or vulnerable adults, some in the finance injury and those associated with the policing or administration of justice. This page provides a tool for checking whether a position qualifies for a DBS check to be made:
https://www.gov.uk/find-out-dbs-check
Generally, if the position does not qualify then no DBS check can be undertaken. Many people are not aware of this. If, for example, a sweet shop, whose customers are predominantly children, decides to employ a new assistant it cannot ask for a DBS check as the post of sweet shop assistant does not qualify for one. The DBS check cannot be used by employers as a way to get to a job applicant’s criminal record if the post they are offering does not warrant it.
As an aside, dick, what was the sentence imposed for which you served two years? These days serving two years would involve an original sentence of at least four years, and sentences of four years or more are never “spent” under the ROA.