Some childhood offenders may no longer have to reveal convictions to employers

Some job applicants in England and Wales would no longer need to declare criminal convictions they received as children under government proposals designed to improve the employment prospects of rehabilitated young people. The changes would mean criminal records for people detained when they were under 18 years old would no longer show up for life during checks carried out by employers.

The Ministry of Justice has also launched a consultation on relaxing disclosure requirements for some specific drug-related and violent crimes committed by children. Young people who have not re-offended as adults struggle to find work because of their past behaviour, the government says.

Many employers require applicants to undergo a background check, which in their most basic form require people to self-declare if they have a criminal record. For more sensitive roles, such as working with children or joining the police, an employer can carry out a standard or enhanced check, which allows them to request information from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).