Naomi Long

The AccessNI scheme has been changed to ensure only relevant and appropriate criminal record information is disclosed on certificates, bringing it in line with a Supreme Court ruling last year.

The changes have been introduced on an administrative basis as of this week, but legislation will later be brought forward to put the changes on a statutory footing, the Department of Justice said.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “As the result of a ruling made by the Supreme Court in January 2019, I have removed a restriction in the AccessNI scheme whereby if a person had more than a single conviction on their criminal record, all convictions held on their criminal record were disclosed on a standard or enhanced AccessNI check.

“This change ensures that the scheme is more proportionate in terms of the information released and that individuals will not find obtaining employment more difficult because of old and minor convictions in their past.”

Changes in respect of the disclosure of information with regard to offences committed when applicants were under 18 years of age will also be applied.

Any information about offences committed by persons under 18 which were adjudicated outside a court process (non-court disposals), such as informed warnings, cautions or youth conference plans will be scrutinised by the independent reviewer of criminal record certificates.

This information will only be disclosed where the independent reviewer determines that the offence could undermine the safeguarding or protection of children and vulnerable adults or the protection of the public.

Ms Long added: “All serious and recent offending will continue to be disclosed on AccessNI checks to ensure that employers have the information they require to make safe recruitment decisions.

“These changes will ensure the continued protection of vulnerable groups without disproportionately penalising individuals.”