New proposals to stop childhood crimes closing doors for life

Move to help those who have turned their lives around access jobs and education without being held back by their past
Public protection remains paramount, with safeguards for serious offences and sensitive roles
Part of wider Government reforms to ensure punishment cuts crime by helping young offenders turn their lives around

People who committed crimes as children but have since turned their lives around could be given a fresh start under plans unveiled by the Government today (Thursday 12 November).

The consultation comes just days after Youth Work Week (2–8 November), and delivers on a commitment in the Government’s Youth Justice White Paper to examine reforms to the childhood criminal records system.

Currently, many criminal record disclosure rules do not distinguish between offences committed by adults and children, despite young people having a greater capacity to change. This means – for example – someone convicted of robbery at 16, who has since turned their life around and never offended again, could still find their criminal record holding them back from certain jobs years later.

The proposals would stop many childhood offences following people into adulthood by ending lifelong disclosure for some convictions, removing disclosure of out-of-court resolutions, and reducing or removing disclosure of convictions that resulted in a fine.

Crucially, public protection will remain paramount, meaning the reforms would not apply to those with convictions for serious violent offences, such as violent and sexual crimes.

Minister for youth justice, sentencing and technology, Jake Richards, said:

Children who commit crimes must face the consequences. But those who turn their lives around shouldn’t be condemned to carry their mistakes forever.

Too often, a childhood criminal record can close doors to jobs, education and the chance to build a better future.

I want to give people a fair chance to move on from their past, while ensuring the public remains protected from those who pose a risk.

To mark the consultation’s launch, Minister Richards convened a roundtable with leading businesses, including KPMG, Timpson and Greene King, to hear firsthand how childhood criminal records can create barriers to employment and discuss how reforms could help people access opportunities.

Satvir Kaur, Minister for safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said:

While it is important that children who make mistakes and learn from them can rebuild their lives and their future, protecting and safeguarding our communities will always be at the heart of our decision-making. This is particularly important when it comes to protecting children and those who are most vulnerable.

There are some convictions, particularly for serious violent and sexual offences, that will always need to be disclosed. We are going further to strengthen these safeguards.

However, children who have committed less serious offences should not be defined by their mistakes forever and should have the opportunity to rebuild their lives. I look forward to wider engagement on this issue so that we can strike the right balance.

People who find work after leaving prison are far less likely to reoffend. Employment plays a vital role in rehabilitation, providing stability, routine, purpose and a pathway to a better future. More than 90% of businesses that employ prison leavers say they are motivated, dependable and have strong attendance records.

Today’s announcement comes ahead of Alan Milburn’s review, which is due to conclude later this month. The Government’s wider action to tackle youth unemployment includes a £2.5 billion package which will support almost one million young people and create 500,000 opportunities.

The Government is focused on breaking down the barriers that can shut young people out of work and opportunity, including by ensuring youth offending does not unnecessarily close doors for the rest of their lives.

Penelope Gibbs, Director of Transform Justice, said:

Criminal records (DBS) checks are an essential tool for safeguarding individuals, but a childhood misdemeanour should not prevent someone volunteering or getting work decades later. Our current system means that a child who commits an offence aged 12 and receives a community sentence will often still have to disclose that offence thirty years later. Even if they have led a crime free life for all those 30 years.