Proposed reforms undermine the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“Imagine you are a middle-aged man with a young family looking to change career to work as a primary school teacher. When you were 12 you took a chocolate bar from a shop. You learnt a salutary lesson and never repeated this isolated error of judgment. Is it right that your prospective employer should be told this? Well, whilst the Government thought your prospective employer should be forewarned, the Court of Appeal disagreed. The Court of Appeal, in R(T) & Others v Greater Manchester was critical of the ‘blanket nature’ of the current regime deeming it disproportionate in pursuance of the legitimate aim of safeguarding children and young adults. As a result of this important case, the Government has been forced to modify the disclosure regime to avoid offending Art 8; the right to private and family life.”
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 18th April 2013
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
