What Convictions Can Stop You From Getting a Job?

What Offences Show up on a Criminal Record Check UK?

Spent & Unspent Convictions

Whether an offence shows up on a DBS check depends on if the convictions are “spent” or “unspent”, and the type of DBS check being applied for. 

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is intended to allow those with a criminal record the ability to integrate better into society by designating most offences as “spent” after a certain period of time has passed since sentencing. If a conviction is spent, it will not be disclosed on Basic DBS checks, and while it will still be disclosed on Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, employers are not permitted to take them into account when considering applicants for roles.

You can use the table adjacent to check whether your conviction is spent, and we’ve also linked two excellent resources below:

• The gov.uk spent conviction checker – This tool allows you to input the details of your offence, and calculates if, or when, it will be spent.
• The gov.uk guidance on rehabilitation periods – This page contains a table of offences, and how long/whether these offences will be spent. It isn’t very well formatted, but it’s functional and offers examples.

Filtered Convictions

Once an offence has become spent, there’s also the possibility for it to become “filtered”. Filtered convictions will not appear on any DBS checks, and will never need to be declared.

The Filtering of Convictions is mostly limited to offences committed while under 18, or where only a caution / reprimand / warning was handed down as a consequence.

“Specified Offences” will never be filtered – these tend to be offences of a violent or sexual nature. Click here to view the full list on the gov.uk site.

Do You Have to Disclose a Criminal Record When Applying for Jobs?

When applying for jobs, your employer is legally entitled to ask whether you have any unspent convictions, and if they do this, you are legally obliged to answer them truthfully. Employers are permitted to consider unspent convictions when making employment judgements.

If you are being asked to complete a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, however, it means that the role in question is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This means you are legally required to disclose both spent and unspent convictions & cautions – both will show up on your DBS certificate, although the employer is not permitted to consider spent convictions when making employment judgements.

What Convictions Can Stop You From Getting a Job: The Barred Lists

Unless the applicant is on either the Adults’ or Children’s Barred Lists, this is the employer’s decision to make. Some offences, particularly violent or sexual offences, will place individuals on the Barred Lists, which makes it illegal for them to apply for, or to be hired for, any role involving the groups they are barred from.

If you’re on the Barred Lists, you’ll have been made aware of it, but for more information read our guide to the DBS Barred Lists.

Summary: What Convictions Can Stop You From Getting A Job?

What Convictions Can Stop You From Getting a Job: Further Reading

If you’ve found our page, “What Convictions Can Stop You From Getting a Job?” useful, take a look at these related pages for some extra info:

• Getting a DBS check for yourself
• Guide to the 3 types of DBS check
• Guide to DBS Renewal

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About The Author

Kellie Dawson

Kellie is our in-house legal expert when it comes to DBS checks. With a background in the legal sector, she has become a recognised authority in this area.

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