Laws on spent convictions and vetting procedures commence:
It not often we have time to comment on positive developments in our criminl laws but today is one such day. Certain minor convictions will automatically be expunged and considered spent after a 7 year period. The period is to long in the writers opinion, but it will assist people with minor convictions who have been blocked from advancing their careers due to the existence of a conviction often for some minor public order conviction. The legislation will also help people in other aspects of life who maybe looking to adopt or apply for housing travel visas etc.
Ireland was extremely behind the curve on this one. Rehabilitation legislation has been on the books in the UK since 1974 so it only took us 42 years!
The issue of vetting and “soft information”is more fraught and grey as ever and will lead to problems in terms of Data Protection rights of individuals.