SC Check - employement

opethdisciple · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:02

Any one have any experience of this?

I've been told by a potential employer that they would have to run an SC check on me before I can get a role.

I was arrested in 2001 for 'possession of a small bag of herbal marijuana'.

How does his work and would this stand against me?

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Honestly the police should not dish out arrests willy nilly for small things if they are going to have a serious impact on the rest of a persons career. In 2001 I was around 1 year in to Uni. And it was a random stop and search as well.

touch · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:08

opethdisciple said:
Honestly the police should not dish out arrests willy nilly for small things if they are going to have a serious impact on the rest of a persons career.

You shoudn't be doing illegal things if they are going to have a serious impact on the rest of your career.

Wizzkidy · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:09

I would think if its still on your record then that is that. Silly thing to do if you require a role in an job that requires SC clearance.

iamtheoneneo · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:09

You had a caution? Also bear in mind that if its with the DBS there are a list of activites that are required to be moved after X amount of years. This was a recent change to account for the passing of time, and maturity.

robfosters · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:10

Yes I've had one. They are not as intense as developed vetting, just a background check really. I know a few people with minor convictions in the past who have passed it, including one with a conviction for wounding with intent. It's like defaults on a credit file. If they are long ago, they become less relevant over time unless they extremely major like terrorism.

Make sure you declare it though. Don't let them find out about it first.

tom_e · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:11

Don't try and hide it and it's very unlikely to cause you an issue.

Also as Touch said, don't do illegal things if you don't want them to effect you in the future.

opethdisciple · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:13

robfosters said:
Yes I've had one. They are not as intense as developed vetting, just a background check really. I know a few people with minor convictions in the past who have passed it, including one with a conviction for wounding with intent. It's like defaults on a credit file. If they are long ago, they become less relevant over time unless they extremely major like terrorism.

Sounds like I should* be OK, but I imagine it's up to the discretion of the employer?

Also how does the process work, do I have to fill in a form or does the employer just request a check on me?

tom_e · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:14

opethdisciple said:
Sounds like I should* be OK, but I imagine it's up to the discretion of the employer?

Also how does the process work, do I have to fill in a form or does the employer just request a check on me?

Google it.

Paperwork to fill in, evidence to be supplied, interviews to attend.

robfosters · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:17

If the initial checks are ok, then you will most likely not need an interview. I didn't for SC, but did for DV. That was an entirely different matter.

opethdisciple · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:22

OK. So I just declare in the paperwork that I was arrested in 2001 for possession and let whatever happen happen.

JustBen · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:25

won't need an interview for SC clearance. Just be honest and it'll be fine. It's good they're putting you through it as some jobs require it as a pre req rather than them putting you through it.

Sliver · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:25

opethdisciple said:
OK. So I just declare in the paperwork that I was arrested in 2001 for possession and let whatever happen happen.

Yeah. Best to be up front about it.

robfosters · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:25

opethdisciple said:
OK. So I just declare in the paperwork that I was arrested in 2001 for possession and let whatever happen happen.

Was you actually convicted of anything?

tom_e · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:26

opethdisciple said:
OK. So I just declare in the paperwork that I was arrested in 2001 for possession and let whatever happen happen.

Yep.

They already know the answers to most things they ask you or can find out with little effort, it's as much to check you're not full of **** as it is to check you're not a terrorist.

Diagro · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:27

If you were not convicted then ignore it.. ..

robfosters · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:30

If it was just an arrest and then a slap in the wrist it will probably not be even recorded any more. Arrest records only started being kept indefinitely since 2006.

agnes · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:31

robfosters said:
If the initial checks are ok, then you will most likely not need an interview. I didn't for SC, but did for DV. That was an entirely different matter.

Agreed, SC is fine, as long as you don't have any current convictions or on going proceedings, you should be fine.

DV is insane though. I had a bit of hassle due to my caution for assault which I declared on my application. Even more of an issue due to some family members! If you do go DV, make sure you take a copy of your completed paperwork, if you don't and you make a mistake with dates or something, it can seriously postpone renewals.

Stelly · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:32

**Moved to Careers and Professional Development**

Stelly

iamtheoneneo · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:32

opethdisciple said:
OK. So I just declare in the paperwork that I was arrested in 2001 for possession and let whatever happen happen.

You need to have been cautioned or convicted of something.
Simply being arrested is not the issue, You need to have been held accountable for that action by the police/CPS

opethdisciple · 25 Oct 2016 at 14:33

I was arrested. It wasn't a caution, it was an arrest. I had a quarter of marijuana on me.

It was a random stop and search in Earls Court. I full complied and didn't resist. They asked me if I had anything on me I shouldn't.

I said yes, some weed. They took me in the car to the station for processing.

Finger prints, DNA everything was taken.

They did say to me though that the record or the evidence only lasts for 5 years.