Should Childhood Convictions Affect Your Future Employment Prospects?

Childhood Convictions and DBS Checks – How The Government Proposes UK Reforms

Government proposals could end the lifelong disclosure of certain criminal convictions received during childhood in England and Wales. The proposed reforms aim to improve employment opportunities for rehabilitated young people while maintaining safeguards for victims, vulnerable individuals and the wider public.

What Changes Are Being Proposed for Childhood Criminal Records?

On 12 November 2026, the Ministry of Justice launched a consultation on reforms to the disclosure of childhood criminal records, recognising that convictions received before the age of 18 can continue to affect employment opportunities well into adulthood.

As reported by BBC News, the government is considering changes that would prevent certain childhood convictions from appearing indefinitely on criminal record checks.

The proposals recognise that children may become involved in criminal activity through peer pressure, exploitation, impulsive behaviour or circumstances that do not necessarily reflect their future conduct as adults.

The objective is to help individuals who have successfully rehabilitated move forward with their lives without unnecessary barriers to employment and education.

Do You Have to Declare Criminal Convictions Received as a Child?

Under the current law, childhood convictions may need to be disclosed depending on the offence, sentence, time elapsed and type of employment being sought.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 allows many convictions to become spent after a specified rehabilitation period.

However, becoming spent does not necessarily mean that a conviction will disappear from every type of criminal record check.

Under existing filtering rules, convictions resulting in custodial sentences and convictions for certain specified offences remain automatically disclosable on standard and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks indefinitely.

This can mean that someone convicted as a teenager continues to face employment restrictions many years later, despite having committed no further offences.

Which Childhood Offences Could Be Removed From Lifelong Disclosure?

The government is consulting on removing five offences from the list requiring lifelong disclosure where the conviction was received during childhood.

• Affray.
• Violent disorder.
• Supplying a controlled drug to a child.
• Robbery.
• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).

Under the proposals, eligible convictions for these offences could become protected from automatic disclosure after five and a half years, subject to the applicable sentencing and filtering rules.

Ministry of Justice figures indicate that approximately 8,500 children were convicted of these offences between March 2022 and March 2026.

The proposed changes would not remove the seriousness of the original offending or overturn the conviction. Instead, they would change the circumstances in which it must subsequently be disclosed.

Will Childhood Custodial Sentences Still Appear on DBS Checks?

Under the proposed reforms, certain childhood convictions resulting in custodial sentences of two years or less could cease to be automatically disclosed on standard and enhanced DBS checks after 11 years.

Currently, convictions resulting in custodial sentences are subject to lifelong automatic disclosure on these checks.

The proposed change could therefore benefit individuals who received relatively short periods of detention during childhood but have subsequently demonstrated successful rehabilitation.

Longer custodial sentences and convictions for offences remaining on the proposed specified offences list would continue to be subject to stricter disclosure requirements.

What Is the Difference Between a Spent Conviction and a Filtered Conviction?

A spent conviction is one for which the applicable rehabilitation period has ended under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In most ordinary employment situations, an individual does not have to disclose a spent conviction.

Filtering is a separate process that determines whether certain spent convictions and cautions are automatically disclosed on standard or enhanced DBS certificates.

A basic DBS check generally reveals unspent convictions and conditional cautions. Standard and enhanced checks can reveal additional criminal record information, subject to filtering rules.

Enhanced checks may also include relevant information held by police where the legal requirements for disclosure are satisfied.

Understanding these distinctions is essential because a conviction can be spent but still appear on a more detailed criminal record check.

Will Childhood Criminal Records Be Deleted Under the New Proposals?

No. The proposed reforms concern criminal record disclosure rather than the automatic deletion of convictions.

A conviction that is no longer automatically disclosed to an employer may still be retained on police records.

The distinction is important because reducing disclosure requirements does not mean that the original conviction has been overturned or erased from criminal justice records.

Will Serious Childhood Offences Still Have to Be Declared?

Yes. The government intends to retain lifelong disclosure requirements for the most serious offences, including certain serious violent offences, sexual offences and terrorism-related crimes.

The consultation does not propose changes to the DBS barring scheme, which helps prevent unsuitable individuals from undertaking regulated activities involving children or vulnerable adults.

The reforms seek to balance rehabilitation and employment opportunities with the continuing need for effective safeguarding and public protection.

What Other Changes Are Being Considered?

The consultation also considers reducing or removing disclosure periods for childhood convictions resulting in fines, ending automatic disclosure of childhood out-of-court resolutions and changing how subsequent convictions affect the rehabilitation periods of earlier childhood offences.

These proposals could benefit individuals whose involvement with the criminal justice system during childhood was relatively limited but whose records continue to affect their opportunities.

Why Is Employment Important to the Rehabilitation of Young Offenders?

Access to employment, education and training can play an important role in helping individuals rebuild their lives and reduce the risk of further offending.

Children who become involved in criminal activity may experience difficult personal circumstances, exploitation or negative influences that change considerably as they mature.

Recognising an individual’s capacity for rehabilitation does not mean overlooking the harm caused by an offence or diminishing the experiences of victims.

Rather, it raises an important question about whether lifelong disclosure remains necessary and proportionate once an individual has demonstrated sustained changes in their behaviour.

Have the New Childhood Criminal Record Rules Come Into Force?

No. As of November 2026, these changes remain proposals subject to government consultation and would require legislative amendments before taking effect.

Individuals applying for employment must continue to comply with the existing disclosure requirements.

Anyone uncertain about whether a childhood conviction must be declared should seek appropriate advice rather than assume that the proposed reforms already apply.

Why Early Legal Advice Matters in Youth Criminal Cases

The potential consequences of a criminal conviction can extend far beyond the sentence imposed by a court.

For children and young people, a conviction may affect future employment, education, professional opportunities and other aspects of adult life.

Obtaining specialist legal advice at an early stage can help young people and their families understand the immediate and longer-term implications of criminal proceedings.

The proposed reforms highlight an important principle within the youth justice system: children must be held accountable for their actions, but successful rehabilitation should also provide a meaningful opportunity to build a different future.

How We Can Help.

Morton’s Solicitors provides criminal defence advice and representation for young people facing criminal allegations across Stockport, Greater Manchester and beyond. If you have any questions relating to any legal representation for youths and would like advice then don’t hesitate to call us now on 0161 477 1121 or email us.