Glyn Davies, Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, has supported a review led by Lord Carlile QC, a former Montgomeryshire MP and current Liberal Democrat Peer, to ‘wipe clean’ the criminal records of some young people who have committed low level crimes.
Lord Carlile told the BBC that young people whose lives have been reformed, perhaps going on to graduate, become teachers or lawyers or accountants – are inhibited at obtaining work because CRB checks and other records checks show that they have committed a low level offence when they were children.
Commenting on his recommendation, Glyn Davies MP said:
“I know of young people in Montgomeryshire who have committed low level offences when they were just children and that offence then appears on every CRB check and other checks – making it difficult to secure interviews or jobs in later life. In some cases this is unreasonable and unfair.
“I support Lord Carlile’s recommendation as a sensible injection of proportionality into the criminal justice system. Of course it will not be appropriate in every case, and there should be a fair lapse of time before a ‘clean sheet’ is considered. But I support some change in the law to make it fairer.
“I believe most people would accept, indeed would support reform in the law so that people can appeal to have minor offences wiped off their records when they turn 18. Any change should ensure more serious offences remain on the record.”
