Asking people to declare criminal records on job applications may be putting off thousands of potential recruits, new research has found.

One in six people in the UK has a criminal record, but the declarations often do little to accurately predict the risk of re-offending among potential recruits, according to a paper by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice.

"Giving people a chance to work can improve outcomes for people and contribute to a safer and more just society," said Dr Beth Weaver, a criminology expert and senior lecturer at Strathclyde University.

"Asking people to disclose their convictions at the job application stage legitimises employer discrimination, as most employers don't know how to make sense of the information provided and undermines the purposes of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act."

Figures from the National Audit Office show that re-offending costs the state £13bn a year, though employment is shown to reduce the rate of re-offending by 60%.


Virgin Trains has been proactively recruiting people with convictions for five years and has banned the criminal record declaration form on job application forms.

Faisal Farooq is now a customer services assistant with the firm, having gone for his initial interview while serving two years in prison.

"I was one of the lucky few to get an interview," he told Sky News. "After I was released I was told that Virgin would contact us and they did. I have been working for the company ever since.

"I would advise people to keep trying their best, to believe in themselves. If you are sure you want to change there are companies out there who will take you on and give you a chance at life."

Image: Faisal Farooq was serving two years when he applied for his job with Virgin

It's estimated that 75% of people leaving prison do not have a job lined up to go to.

"For many people it can be a cause of despair because they know that were they to tick that box (criminal record), regardless of their skills and experience, they would be immediately discounted from that role," said Adriana Paice, who runs 'The Exceptionals', a campaign group that works to get ex-offenders into employment.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Criminal record arrangements need to strike the right balance between rehabilitation and public protection and the current measures do just that.

"All cautions and most convictions become spent over a specified length of time after which offenders are not required to disclose their convictions."