+x+xHi all, Bit of a success story really, I consider myself to be quite on top of developments in the area around criminal records, but even I seemingly missed this - Buried in PCSC ( Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill (PCSC) - What does it mean for you? - Unlock) was this: How will multiple convictions be treated?For the purposes of deciding whether an offence is excluded from becoming spent, consecutive and concurrent sentences will be treated separately. ExampleLucy was convicted of robbery and criminal damage in May 2009. She received a four-year prison sentence for the robbery and a six-month sentence for the criminal damage to run consecutively. This gives a total sentence of 4 years and 6 months. Under the previous legislation Lucy’s conviction would never be spent and would always need to be disclosed when applying for jobs. It would always appear on her basic DBS certificate. After PCSC, Lucy’s sentences will be treated separately and will both become spent on 28 October 2023 as on their own, neither prison sentence was over four years.
This is amazing news. Personally for myself, it's life-changing, as it means the 9 year prison sentence I served (3 sentences of 3 years to run consecutively) now will become spent in 2031, whereas was never before eligible to become spent.
This will affect thousands of people who've served significant prison sentences and we need to highlight this information more.
Please share and let anyone who may be affected by this change know.
Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel! Hi Thank you for this and wish I had seen it sooner. I was sentenced to 4yrs so this change means I should of only declared for 4 yrs not 7yrs. If the Government accepted this change then I again wonder why they would not accept that a "low risk" person on the SOR for life should be able to have that discharged after 10 years?. Always hope though. Thank you Don't be too hard on yourself. The change was only made a year ago, so it is relatively recent. Additionally, for people who have any sort of relevant order (restraining order, SHPO, etc.), if that runs for longer it keeps the conviction unspent until the order ends.
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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)
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