There are over 10.5 million people in the UK with a criminal record on the Police National Computer
Around a third of people claiming benefits have received a criminal record in the last 10 years
1 in 3 men (and one in 9 women) have a criminal record by theage of 56.
Only 8% of people that receive a conviction end up going to prison.
There are over 1.2million individuals that receive a conviction every single year.
A significant number of people (205,000 each year) receive cautions instead of convictions.
Of those employers that recruit people with convictions, 87% consider them to be at least as productive.
Increased retention – 47% of employers say that those they’ve recruited with convictions stayed for over 3 years. People with convictions are less likely to leave as they’re grateful for the opportunity they’ve given.
That’s why companies like Timpson and Greggs are so proactive in recruiting them.
Over half of people with a criminal record would not apply for a job where they needed to disclose their criminal record – known as the “chilling-effect”.
71% of people with convictions think that ticking ‘yes’ to a question about convictions would affect their chances of getting the job.
Blanket policies and arbitrary rules bar suitable people.
Recruitment is, first and foremost, about finding the best person for the job.
This means selecting first based on merit.
Disclosures at application or interview take time and effort to consider, before you have even worked out whether they’re a potential candidate for the job.
Dealing with convictions later in the recruitment process is mutually beneficial – it gives you a better chance of getting the right person, and it gives the individual a chance to prove his/her value.
Of those employers who promote the fact that they employ people with convictions, around two-thirds (65%) say it’s had a positive impact on their corporate reputation.
Source:Unlock.org
