Criminal convictions
When applying for a job with the Council you must tell us about any unspent criminal convictions you have, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, as amended by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment Act 2012 effective from 10 March 2014.
When applying for roles as accountants, solicitors or any jobs where you are likely to be in regular contact with people less than 18 years of age, you will need to declare spent convictions.
The information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only be considered in respect of the job for which you are applying. If you disclose a conviction you may still be considered for the post.
All information we obtain from a disclosure application to the Disclosure & Barring Service will be processed in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice.
The following sentences become spent after fixed periods from the date of conviction:
For custodial sentences:
Sentence length |
Rehabilitation period is period of sentence plus the ‘buffer’ period below which applies from end of sentence. |
0 – 6 months |
2 years |
6 – 30 months |
4 years |
30 months – 4 years |
7 years |
Over 4 years |
Never spent |
For non-custodial sentences:
Sentence |
Buffer period (will apply from end of sentence) |
Community order (and youth rehabilitation order) |
1 year |
Sentence |
New period |
Fine |
1 year (from date of conviction) |
Absolute discharge |
None |
Conditional discharge, referral order, reparation order, action plan order, supervision order, bind over order, hospital order |
Period of order |
Last reviewed: 22 - 10 - 2014