Summary of updates – September 2014

Here’s a summary of the updates that we’ve made recently to our Information Hub.

Changes to the structure on the Hub – new ‘Advice’ section

• We are continually looking at ways of improving the Hub to make the information more accessible. As part of this, we’ve created a new ‘advice’ section – this shares some of the common areas that people with convictions to us looking for our advice about. The advice we give is based on what we’ve learnt as an organisation when dealing with these issues, and the experiences of other people with convictions.
• We’ve also got a new downloads section where you will find all Unlock materials which are available to download as PDF’s.

Going on a game show with a criminal record

• Following some enquiries to our Helpline, we have published a document on getting on a game show with a criminal record. This looks at the questions you are likely to be asked by television production companies and the possible consequences of appearing on TV.

Ways to find out about your criminal record

• There’s some information on how DBS Adult First Checks are used, who can apply for them and what the outcome of a check will mean to an applicant.

Police records

• We’ve published information about how the collection and retention of intimate and non-intimate DNA samples are regulated plus how police forces in England and Wales have been collecting DNA samples from 12,000 serious offenders who are not on the national DNA database as part of Operation Nutmeg.

Specific occupations and professions

• The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 came into force on 1st October 2013 and requires all scrap metal dealers to undergo basic criminal record checks in order to trade. Further information relating to the legislation can be found here.

Money

• You can no longer apply for a crisis loan if you live in England, Wales or Scotland. We’ve published some information on changes to crisis loans and short term payments available from Jobcentre Plus which provides details of the application process and eligibility criteria for hardship payments, short term advances and budgeting loans.

Applying for work

• We’ve added a video in our support getting into work section produced by Inside Job Productions in partnership with one of the Work Programme providers which features ‘Rory’ and his story.