should criminal records be on line?

[macafee2]

Should criminal records be on line?

no wrong people could be mistakenly targeted
no family's of criminals could be targeted

yes name and shame
yes people should know if there is a threat near them
yes people should know if a partner has a conviction, it could be serious and they could be at risk
yes employers should know, they may not want to employ someone who is a risk to staff and customers

macafee2

[75c]

We have clare's law to protect us from domestic violence and employers can require disclosure of unspent convictions.


Certain professions, like mine (nursing) have to disclose all convictions including spent ones


https://crbdirect.org.uk/

[Simondi]

An emotive subject.
On one hand if there are persistent offenders who despite being imprisoned etc continue in their ways then possibly it could be an idea.
On the other hand if there is someone who for whatever reason has a record, who has now changed their ways and are trying to live a good and law abiding life. It is unfair that everyone shoulkd be able to look up their record and base opinion on past mistakes.

I fear that such a system as proposed assumes that nobody with a criminal record can change.

I wonder how many of us here would be happy with such a system if it directly affected us?

That's my thoughts, I'm not going to enter into a debate on them

[rustymotor]

You need a criminal records check to be a driving instructor and in many other sectors working with children, care workers for example...imagine asking your girlfriend etc to have a check don't think it would go down well..how about a list of folk with HIV..could plunge the country in to termoil however, know where you're coming from especially where children are concerned.

There is also the rehibilitation of offenders act.

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by Simondi

An emotive subject.
On one hand if there are persistent offenders who despite being imprisoned etc continue in their ways then possibly it could be an idea.
On the other hand if there is someone who for whatever reason has a record, who has now changed their ways and are trying to live a good and law abiding life. It is unfair that everyone shoulkd be able to look up their record and base opinion on past mistakes.

I fear that such a system as proposed assumes that nobody with a criminal record can change.

I wonder how many of us here would be happy with such a system if it directly affected us?

That's my thoughts, I'm not going to enter into a debate on them

you make a valid point that adds value to the topic and something I had not considered.

The question however still remains, should criminal records be on line? Thinking of Simondi's point, if no offending for x years then they come off line?
It would be a minefield trying to decide what records are on line and what is not on line

macafee2

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by rustymotor

You need a criminal records check to be a driving instructor and in many other sectors working with children, care workers for example...imagine asking your girlfriend etc to have a check don't think it would go down well..how about a list of folk with HIV..could plunge the country in to termoil however, know where you're coming from especially where children are concerned.

There is also the rehibilitation of offenders act.

Did not know that having HIV was a crime.

macafee2

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by macafee2

Did not know that having HIV was a crime.

macafee2

I read Gordon’s comments differently. What he was saying is where do you draw the line, or would it be extended to people with HIV for argument sake? To deliberately infect another with HIV is a serious criminal offence: see link https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sta...396.html%3famp

[MSS]

Originally Posted by rustymotor

You need a criminal records check to be a driving instructor and in many other sectors working with children, care workers for example...imagine asking your girlfriend etc to have a check don't think it would go down well..how about a list of folk with HIV..could plunge the country in to termoil however, know where you're coming from especially where children are concerned.

There is also the rehibilitation of offenders act.

It is of course the same with any role that involves dealing with children, the vulnerable, etc. As part of my volunteering at a local college, I have just gone through the Enhanced DBS process.

I think the current system works reasonably well.

We could be really contentious and discuss weather a "fit to be a parent" certificate should be required by anyone intending to have children.

[Groundsman Willie]

Originally Posted by Simondi

An emotive subject.
On one hand if there are persistent offenders who despite being imprisoned etc continue in their ways then possibly it could be an idea.
On the other hand if there is someone who for whatever reason has a record, who has now changed their ways and are trying to live a good and law abiding life. It is unfair that everyone shoulkd be able to look up their record and base opinion on past mistakes.

I fear that such a system as proposed assumes that nobody with a criminal record can change.

I wonder how many of us here would be happy with such a system if it directly affected us?

That's my thoughts, I'm not going to enter into a debate on them

This is pretty much how I feel about it.

Yes, it would be good to know if there is someone in your street/pub/work that you need to watch out for, but you run the risk of victimising someone who made a mistake 15 years ago and hasn't erred since.
Some sections of society do feel that they've got a right to take the law into their own hands and dish out 'street justice' to those they feel may have (in their eyes), done wrong based purely on the fact that they did something similar half a lifetime ago.

[andymc]

It would be no more reasonable to create a public register of individuals with HIV than it would be to create a public register of "people who drive a van" in the aftermath of last year's Finsbury Park attack. Doing either would be grossly excessive, paranoid and malignant.