INDEPENDENT ADVISOR FOR CRIMINALITY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CRIMINAL RECORDS REVIEW NORTHERN IRELAND   Sunita Mason, the Independent Advisor for Criminality Information Management, seeks your views on a review of the criminal records regime in Northern Ireland.  To assist her fact-finding, she has drawn up the following questionnaire to obtain a wide range of views against the specific Terms of Reference for this review. Mrs Mason will report her findings and recommendations to the Minister of Justice.  Your contribution to this online survey is appreciated.  A number of representative organisations have also been formally invited to take part.   Responses to this questionnaire will be accepted up to 13 May 2011.

Q1 Name: (optional) Q2 Role / Job Title:(optional) Q3 Organisation Name:(optional)

Q4 Please select the option that best matches your organisation’s primary role from the following:   Private / Public Employer Employee representative Volunteer representative Professional Regulator Supervisory bodies Other, please specify

Q5 Please select the sector that best matches that which your organisation is primarily involved with.   Health Adult Social Care Children Social Care Care Homes Primary / Secondary Education Tertiary Education Faith Sport & leisure Justice inc Young Offenders Local Council Other, please specify

Q6 Is your organisation an AccessNI Umbrella / Registered Body?   Yes No Don't know

Q7 Does this consultation response represent the views of just your organisation, or does it incorporate a wider consensus of views?   Only this organisation A consensus of views None of the above- these are only my personal views   Please add the names of other organisations whose views are represented in this response

Q8 What is the approximate number of AccessNI Disclosure Applications submitted by your organisation per year?   None 1 - 50 51 - 100 101 - 200 201 - 500 501 - 1000 1001+ Not applicable - don't use the AccessNI service

Q9 What impact does the current AccessNI regime have on your organisation?   It is a statutory requirement that is not overly burdensome It is an unnecessary statutory requirement We follow best practice in our sector It is disproportionate to the risk involved None of the above   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q10 How do you feel about the balance between public protection and individual rights in the Disclosure process?   The protection of vulnerable groups should override individual civil liberties The current system is proportionate Individual rights and civil liberties are being unfairly overridden None of the above   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q11 Are the criteria for eligibility for AccessNI Disclosures in your sector clear?   Yes No We follow statutory guidance We have developed policies based on best practice We are advised by an Umbrella Body None of the above   Please add any further comments about this topic.  In particular, do you have any views on where the boundary should be set between who is eligible for an AccessNI disclosure, and who is not?

Q12 Should volunteers be treated differently from paid employees in terms of eligibility for AccessNI disclosures?   Yes No In some circumctances Don't know Not Applicable - don't use AccessNI service   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q13 Should police intelligence information form part of an AccessNI disclosure?   Yes No Don't know   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q14 To what extent should old and minor offences be included in AccessNI disclosures?   Always There should be criteria covering age of conviction / seriousness Don’t know   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q15 Should AccessNI disclosures be portable, i.e. should they be transferable between employers?   Yes No In some circumstances Don't know   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q16 Do you think that constantly updating information about individuals as new information is gathered is:   A very good idea A good idea Neither a good nor bad idea A bad idea A very bad idea Don’t know   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q17 Of the following topics, which is of the most important priority from your perspective? (From the selection below please prioritise your top 5 with 1 being the highest)       1   2   3   4   5   Clear criteria for eligibility that is enforced by AccessNI           Availability of on-line applications           Portable disclosure certificates           Continuous updating           Better integration of international data           Less information / police intelligence in an AccessNI disclosure           More relevant and consistent police intelligence           Individuals have the capacity to access, challenge and correct their own criminal records           Better balance between civil liberties and public protection           Reduced cost/bureaucratic burden

Q18 If portability is an important priority from your perspective, please indicate if the following are acceptable.   Yes   No   Only in Limited Circumstances a) Disclosures would only be sent to the applicant     b) Registered Bodies would be advised when certificates are issued     c) Employers could make "on-line" checks to ensure the disclosure was valid     d) An additional charge would be necessary to achieve portability

Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q19 What should a “criminal record” consist of?   Just convictions Convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings Some other set of data (please specify in the box below) Don’t know
You selected 'Some other set of data' -Please specify
Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q20 How long should criminal records be kept for?   Forever For 100 years from the subject’s date of birth For variable periods, depending on seriousness On some other basis (please specify in the box below) Don’t know
You selected "On some other basis", please specify
Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q21 Where should criminal records be kept?   By the police on its system By the courts on its system The Department of Justice on its system On some other system (please specify below) Don’t know
You selected "On some other system", please specify
Please add any further comments about this topic. In particular, do you have any further comments about how criminal records are managed and who should be responsible for that?

Q22 Access to criminal records should be allowed for what purposes?   Only criminal justice purposes Criminal justice and employment vetting purposes A broader range of purposes (please specify below) Don’t know
You selected "A broader range of purposes" please specify.
Please add any further comments about this topic. In particular, do you have any comments about what controls and checks should be applied to access?

Q23 What information held about them should individuals be able to access and challenge?   None Conviction records only Intelligence information only Conviction records and intelligence information Some other set of information Don’t know   Please add any further comments about this topic.

Q24 Do you have any views on the ways in which overseas data is integrated into the criminal records regime?

Q25 Would you be happy for officials to contact you to discuss your responses?   Yes No Contact Details:

This is the end of the Questionnaire. Thank you for taking the time to participate in the survey. Please click on the submit button.