Killers and drug dealers to have a clean slate in search for jobs

David Gauke said a regular pay cheque helped stop people from reoffending
David Gauke said a regular pay cheque helped stop people from reoffending
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JACK HILL

Criminals including some killers, sex offenders and drug dealers will have their records wiped under plans to stop the stigma of a conviction from “hanging over the rest of their lives”.

David Gauke, the justice secretary, wants to scrap a rule that means people sentenced to prison terms of more than four years have to disclose their conviction to a prospective employer for the rest of their life.

The plan means people who have served long sentences for offences including manslaughter, violent assault, robbery and some sex offences will effectively have their criminal records wiped clean. The reform will not apply to the most “dangerous” sexual or violent offenders, those who have served life sentences and those who have been given “indeterminate” sentences.

People