Would you ever employ someone that has been in prison?

[ASB]

He is now head of department through merit. He got pissed up a few times out on the town when he was as student and got lifted, 20 years on he runs the Maths department and is now considered to be an excellent teacher. A perfect example of why you should not judge someone on their past by using a police database.

And perhaps also a good example of why, because often people do judge the book by it's covers, not recording the damn things in the first place might actually improve things.

[AtW]

A perfect example of why you should not judge someone on their past by using a police database.

Well, there is a time period after which convictions are considered "spent" - I think it's 10 years? So if he did something like this 20 years ago and it's not stuff like war crimes then it's fair play.

[ASB]

Well, there is a time period after which convictions are considered "spent" - I think it's 10 years? So if he did something like this 20 years ago and it's not stuff like war crimes then it's fair play.

Unfortunately it doesn't necessarily work that way. Firstly convictions become spent under the rehabilation of offenders act. How long that is depends upon the offence. Some (reasonably enough) never become spent. However being spent does not mean they are in any way removed. All it means it you do not need to declare them in general. However it does not apply to everything by any means. Insurance contracts (arguably), Visa applications, eg for the US and Australia.

Also CRB Checks which are undertaken do reveal them - depending upon the level of check undertaken.

[AtW]

Seems like system is a total mess and needs complete reform.