CRB? Completely Raving Bonkers

I was speaking to a colleague from another council today, about joint initiatives to encourage our NEETs (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) back into paid work.

He told me about a programme which had successfully encouraged a young woman to apply for a job as a drugs counsellor.  She was absolutely perfect for the job; she was engaging, committed and passionate.  She had also been a drug user herself.

There was just one problem. While she was using drugs, she had received a conviction for "dealing" to friends to feed her habit.

So when her Criminal Records Bureau check came back, it disqualified her from getting the job for which she would have been truly perfect.

And the real choker?

If her conviction had been for prostitution, she could have been given the job.