- Recommendation is reportedly at the heart of a review of reoffending policy
- It is from Labour MP David Lammy who was asked to look at why reoffending is higher in BAME groups
- Under the proposal people convincted as youths could get to lock their records
Labour MP David Lammy was commissioned by Davis Cameron’s government to explore ways to cut re-offending by black, Asian and minority ethnic people
Criminals could be allowed to hide their convictions from potential employers under proposals due to be published this week, it emerged today.
Labour MP David Lammy was commissioned by Davis Cameron’s government to explore how black, Asian and minority ethnic people are treated by the criminal justice system.
A proposal in his report will be to allow people convicted as teenagers who are able to demonstrate they now lead a law-abiding life to ‘lock’ their criminal records.
The convictions would not be wiped from the record or quashed but the intention is to give people a second chance.
A source familiar with Lammy’s findings told the Sunday Times: ‘Our criminal records regime is trapping offenders in their past.
‘David wants fundamental change. There is clear evidence that reform of criminal records takes ex-offenders off welfare and into work.
‘This approach wouldn’t see records ‘wiped’ but would give ex-offenders who prove they have turned their lives around every chance of a fresh start.’
Under the plans, a convicted criminal would be allowed to apply to a judge to weigh up evidence of rehabilitation and the time elapsed since the offence.
If the decision went the applicant’s way, the criminal record would still exist but the person would not need to disclose it and employers would be unable to see it.
A proposal in the report will be to allow people convicted as teenagers who are able to demonstrate they now lead a law-abiding life to ‘lock’ their criminal records (file image)
Evidence from America — where Massachusetts and some parts of California have implemented the same idea — shows reform of criminal record regimes can boost employment rates among former offenders, increasing the tax take and reducing the cost of welfare benefits.
In the UK, official figures show nearly 30 per cent of those claiming jobseeker’s allowance have a criminal record.
While 38 per cent of white youths reoffend, the figure is 46 per cent for black youths. The employment rate is 12 percentage points higher for whites than non-whites.
The plan is one of a series of proposals to be published on Friday. Mr Lammy will urge ministers to look favourably on those who committed low-level crimes as children or young adults but can demonstrate law-abiding lives since.