Why do I need to declare my criminal convictions?
Due to the nature of the Department’s work, it is our policy to check a person’s criminal record before any appointment is confirmed. Any offer of employment is made subject to obtaining a satisfactory criminal clearance check. You are required to declare your criminal convictions on the application form and criminal checks will also be conducted through the Ministry of Justice as part of the recruitment process.
Our Policy on Criminal Convictions
Our policy provides that a criminal conviction does not necessarily debar an applicant from appointment. However, applicants with the following kinds of criminal record will not usually be considered for appointment:
A General Manager of a Service or Group has discretion to appoint a person who has a criminal record, where the General Manager decides that the potential benefits to the Department outweigh the disadvantage of the criminal record.
As you can see from the policy, having a criminal conviction will not necessarily preclude you from being offered employment. It depends on the nature of the position you are applying for and the nature of the offences that might be on your criminal records. Your criminal conviction record will be reviewed against our policy to assess your suitability for employment with the Department.