Change policy for people recovered from drug/alcohol addiction

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Currently people who are in long term recovery from drug/alcohol addiction/misuse who have a related criminal history are still stigmatised due to that period of their life. Although the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act states convictions are 'spent', people with such history experience inequality

One of my staff who is in long term recovery, witnessed an incident of intimate partner violence to a client being supported. After giving a witness statement, and supporting the victim to prosecute, my colleague supported the client to court. Prior to the court hearing, my colleague was told the case had been rejected by the CPS due to my colleague being an 'unreliable witness' - the reason being my colleague's historic (13yrs ago) offences directly linked to past drug/addiction related crime

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.

We understand that you're concerned about how people are stigmatised due to convictions related to addiction, but we're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.

You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do. For example, you could start a new petition asking the UK Parliament and Government to prevent the disclosure of spent convictions of people in recovery, if that's something you'd like to happen.

Timeline

21 Feb 2019	Petition opened for signatures
4 Mar 2019	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Rejected 4 Mar 2019

Follow this petition