Jobseekers can keep criminal record a secret

A COUNCIL has become the first to stop asking job applicants about criminal convictions.

The move means that people applying for roles with Bristol city council will not have to disclose their convictions during the application process unless they will be working with children or vulnerable people.

It is part of a campaign called “ban the box”, which calls on companies and organisations to adopt such policies.

The initiative was backed by David Cameron, who announced in February 2016 that the Civil Service would no longer be requiring those with a criminal record to declare the convictions on their CV.

Marvin Rees, the city’s mayor, said: “Bristol is a place where the opportunities to share in the city’s success are not evenly distributed and barriers exist that prevent some from fulfilling their potential.

“Our aim is to remove one of those barriers and send a message that we’re interested in getting to know the person applying for the job first and begin our conversation from there.” Currently, there are 92 employers signed up to the ‘ban the box’ campaign – including Boots, Barclays and Virgin Trains.

More than 11million people in the UK have a criminal record and it is hoped that supporting such campaigns will reduce re-offending rates, which currently costs the economy £15billion per year. Cllr Kye Dudd, the cabinet member and chairman of Bristol council’s human resources committee, said: “Almost 70 per cent of sentences handed down by the courts are fines, but they generate a record that most employers ask to be disclosed when applying for a job.

“We want to be an employer that encourages and provides opportunities for people from all backgrounds. There’s also benefit for us in that we’re unblocking a barrier that will ensure we’re making the most of Bristol’s deep talent pool.”