Q. What does our organisation do if a person tells us that they have previous convictions, or the police hold information about them

It is OK to have a frank and confidential discussion with the person about the policy of your organisation.  Community transport groups generally have constitutions that restrict their purpose to helping others  - who could be children or vulnerable adults.  It therefore follows that, however sympathetic you personally may be about the person’s circumstances, the organisation must put the needs of the people it exists to serve before any other viewpoints.  If the actual criminal record is minor, you may decide, jointly between yourself and the prospective volunteer or staff member, to apply for a check and wait to see what decision comes back.  Remember another ‘trick’ that is sometimes used is to talk down the seriousness of a conviction.  This mitigation, excuses or blaming of others will not affect the decision.  However it has to be said that not all criminal records would bar a person from driving or being a passenger assistant on a vehicle carrying children or vulnerable adults.