SC clearance with criminal record

[Contractorr]

Hi,
I am a recently qualified IT worker who is looking to do contract work.

Unfortunately 12 years ago I was convictied and and spent 6 months in prison for having a one night encounter with an underage girl who I believe was of legal age. I was 18 at the time she turned out to be 14. I was on the sex offenders register for 10 years which ended early 2017 and my conviction was “spent” years ago.

In my current field there are a lot of jobs requireing SC clearance and with the need to support my young family I would like to apply. I have never recieved a caution for been in trouble with the police for anything else.

Is SC clearance possible? I know you have to declare everything but does this conviction automatically prevent me from being able to gain it?

Thanks for your time in advance.

[NCOTBAC]

Who knows. Apply and be honest... Which is exactly the same advice we roll out in every single thread asking if posters will get clearance or not.

[fatJock]

Same advice - apply and be honest. It’s about honesty and anything that could be used by others as leverage. I’ve seen some with convictions for GBH get clearance and others squeaky clean but with criminal connections in their (even historic) wider family be refused.

[malvolio]

Put it this way - why do you think the vetting people don't already know about your conviction? Having it is not necessarily a problem, not telling them is.

[simes]

To be sure, I know nothing about SC from a point of view of personal experience...

But from those I have spoken to, isn't the process more about getting stuff known to the SC party in advance, to prevent one being bribed about something?

If so, as above, I would advocate complete honesty.

Also, very happy to be proved wrong about my supposition above.

[NCOTBAC]

To be sure, I know nothing about SC from a point of view of personal experience...

Oh dear. Here we go...

But from those I have spoken to, isn't the process more about getting stuff known to the SC party in advance, to prevent one being bribed about something?

If so, as above, I would advocate complete honesty.

Advice based on chats with friends about highly sensitive material?

If you read any of the many SC threads we have that's exactly what is trotted out time and time again but with the reasons why. It's a little more complicated than that.

Also, very happy to be proved wrong about my supposition above.

Instead of proving you wrong why not go look at the Read first before asking SC clearance and learn it so you will know you are right?
https://forums.contractoruk.com/showthread.php?t=54132

[simes]

Consider me told...

[LondonManc]

OP, I feel for you. Was nearly in a similar situation when I was 19 - fortunately she was 16 but in the nightclub. When a sexy young lady tells you she's 19 (and looks it), you're not going to not believe her after you've both had a few drinks and start asking for ID, especially after she's used it to get in the club. As the others have said, honesty is the best policy.

[oilboil]

The process for SC is pretty much automated so anything that can be computer checked will be cross referenced; if your conviction can be found on computer and given you have 6 months of "hotel receipts" on file at the five star HMP it will be then if you leave it off you have absolutely no chance of getting an SC clearance. That being said unless your conviction has a material difference on your ability to do the job (for instance working in security for a politicians family - with your conviction you'd be f'ckd) the fact it is now spent would not be an issue normally.

Depending on who your SC role is with the penalties (monetary and time in HMP) vary if you are found to have falsified the declarations - be honest and if your past means you can't get the role then so be it - after all as with most things in life "not being aware of something is no excuse for doing it when it's illegal" - and if you screw up you have to live with the consequences (which it sounds like you are - I'm not meaning this to sound like a judgey post - more reiterating what you already know - one ill-advised event has kept creeping up on you for years and despite it being spent I guess it never really goes away)

[whirlpool]

SC Clearance true story

I will share my story.
Many years ago i had some minor convictions.
I got married and was interviewed by Government Departments.
I made up that i had Security Clearance and no one checked.
Then they presented me with an SC application form.
I bottled it (this happened twice - but i still got my money).
Further on i got divorced and didn't have to provide for anyone.
I was again invited to apply and got the SC clearance!

p.s. When i applied to the Police National Computer, there was a misdemeanor for "wandering about on a highway" which i didn't even know about.