Sometimes it is necessary to tell an employer, voluntary organisation, college or financial institution that you have ‘something to declare’ about your criminal record. Other examples of times you may need to declare such information include house, business or car insurance and travelling to other countries such as the USA or Australia. No matter who you are disclosing the information to, it is good to spend some time putting together a clear and concise statement that you can use to explain your situation.
The legislation differences between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are significant. Northern Ireland is still working with legislation that is centred on the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 which has been amended a number of times. However the main legislation it is based on has been progressively updated and improved in both England & Wales and also in Scotland in the last ten years. The differences and how they relate to spending periods is laid out in the table below.
