Concealed conviction concern
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CONCERN has been expressed by the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners that details of a driver's past convictions may not be revealed to them when he applies for a psv or conductor's licence. This is because of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the point was raised in the Commissioners Annual Report for 1974-75.
"Those charged with the responsibility of providing the Traffic Commissioners with information about the applicant's convictions understandably will be reluctant to reveal an applicant's record ,because of the risk of being accused of maladministration," says the report.
"It is known that transport undertakings regard the possession of a public service drivers or conductor's licence as an indication of good character as well as of fitness to drive."
"The decision to grant a licence and perhaps afford a man the chance to rehabilitate himself or to refuse it with the object of protecting the safety of the travelling public can only be made in our view when the fullest information in respect of convictions is available to the Traffic Commissioners," says the report.