What jobs can I not do with a criminal record?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 14, 2026
7 Jobs You Can Never Get With a Criminal Record
- Teaching. A teacher and student | Angela Weiss/Getty Images. ...
- Child care. Kids collecting bugs in a jar | iStock.com. ...
- Health care. A doctor wearing a medical instrument | Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images. ...
- Law enforcement. ...
- Finance. ...
- Retail. ...
- Government.
Can I be refused a job because of a criminal record?
Being refused a job
There is no legal concept of 'discrimination on the basis of having a criminal record', as there is for discrimination on the grounds of age or disability. Your treatment, therefore, will only create a legal claim if it would do so for someone without a criminal record.
Can you get a job with a criminal record?
Simply having a criminal record does not prevent you from getting a job. In a limited number of cases, certain convictions may prevent you from working in certain roles, but, you are likely to already know about this if it applies to you.
What can't you do with a criminal record UK?
In theory, having a criminal record in Britain should not prevent a person from doing much, unless it is for violent or sexual offences. But in practice, the legal obligation to disclose a record, and the discrimination that follows, restricts access to everything from jobs to insurance, loans and travel.
Can you work in a bank with a criminal record UK?
However recruitment for finance sector jobs typically excludes people with criminal records, regardless of their talent or the relevance of their convictions. Often positions are excluded from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and recruiters are also barring people with very old, spent convictions.
25 related questions foundCan I work with children if I have a criminal conviction?
Can You Work with Children with a Criminal Record? A criminal record does not bar an individual from working with young people or vulnerable adults. However, although employers can't turn anyone away for a having a criminal history, many employers are influenced a great deal by prejudice.
Can you be a financial adviser with a criminal record?
The FCA's stated position in the guidance on their website is that individuals working in financial services must disclose to the FCA: Spent and unspent criminal convictions (other than a protected conviction) and. Spent and unspent cautions (other than a protected caution)
How can I clear my criminal record UK?
The only way to get your conviction removed from police records is to appeal against the conviction through the courts. You will need to seek legal advice if this is something you wish to pursue. I was told my conviction would be removed after five years.
How long does a conviction stay on your criminal record UK?
In the UK, the Police National Computer (PNC) stores all recordable offences. It remains there until the person becomes 100 years old. However, there is no formal way for a person to request deletion of court convictions. For some exceptional cases, you can clear caution and convictions on a criminal record.
What Offences show up on a DBS check?
Basic DBS check: Contains any convictions or cautions that are unspent.
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What is a protected conviction or caution?
- certain sexual offences.
- offences of violence such as ABH, GBH, affray and robbery (but not common assault)
- offences relating to the supply of drugs (but not simple possession) safeguarding offences.
Does criminal record expire?
If the person was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense (i.e. legally considered to be an adult), then the conviction will be expunged from their record 11 years after the conviction date (not the offense date).
What kind of jobs can felons get?
What Kinds of Jobs Can You Get With Felonies?
- Construction and Manual Labor. People willing to do manual labor will find that the construction and trades industry is a good place to find work. ...
- Food and Beverage Industry. ...
- Criminal Justice Careers. ...
- Trucking and Local Delivery. ...
- Staffing Agencies.
Do I have to disclose criminal convictions?
A job applicant or employee is not legally required to disclose a spent conviction, unless their job role is excepted from the protection under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A spent conviction is where any rehabilitation period has passed.
Is your criminal record on your passport?
There is no link to your criminal record from your passport. The chip on a biometric passport only stores a digitised image of your photograph and biographical details which are printed in your passport. You will be required to apply for a visa when travelling to certain countries (for example the USA and Australia).
How far back does a basic DBS check go?
How Far Back Does a Standard DBS Check Go? Standard DBS checks can go as far back as possible, as there is no limit. This is because they show everything a basic does, as well as both spent and unspent convictions.
Does criminal record show on DBS?
DBS checks will also pick up criminal convictions and criminal records. However, multiple cautions can be filtered from all reports if the offences are eligible and the relevant filtering period has elapsed for each caution.
How long do convictions stay on your DBS?
If over 18 at the time of the offence, a conviction will be filtered 11 years after the date of the conviction, and a caution 6 years after the date of the caution, provided that the applicant did not go to prison, has not committed any other offence and the offence was not of a violent or sexual nature.
Does a court fine mean a criminal record UK?
Fixed penalty notices (FPN) and penalty charge notices (PCN) are fines for minor driving offences. They will not appear on your criminal record unless a court gives you a conviction because of one.
What goes on a criminal record?
A criminal record, formally known as a summary criminal history, or more commonly known as a “rap” sheet, is a list of arrests and convictions. Any time the police fingerprint you because of a criminal investigation, that information is added to your summary criminal history.
How do I know if my conviction is protected?
A conviction is a "protected conviction" if:
- It does not relate to a "listed offence", such as violent and sexual offences. ...
- No custodial sentence was imposed.
- The individual has no other convictions. ...
- It was received by a person aged under 18 at the time of the conviction and five and a half years or more have elapsed.
Can I be a mortgage broker if I have a criminal record?
Mortgage companies do not generally check criminal records. They do not have access to the Police National Computer, and usually rely on the information you provide on your application form.
Can you be a stockbroker with a criminal record?
FINRA, the licensing body for stockbrokers, administers the basic series 7 license to become a stockbroker. FINRA bylaws provide that any applicant with any felony conviction is disqualified from obtaining a series 7 license for 10 years from the date that the applicant was convicted.
Can you work in a care home with a criminal record?
The short answer to that question is that you are not automatically disqualified from working in the care industry simply because you have criminal activity recorded against you. To be refused a role as a care worker based on your history, the crime must be relevant to the position.
Can you ask employees about criminal convictions?
Yes, but the question you should ask will depend on the job that you are recruiting for. All employers are entitled to ask applicants to disclose details of any convictions which are not yet spent (i.e. unspent) under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended).
What happens if I don't disclose a conviction?
The job offer may be revoked. If you've already started working, you may be dismissed or. You could be prosecuted and receive another conviction.