Rejected petition Expunge all minor drug possession arrest records, these are victimless crimes.
For many people who are not criminally minded but have a criminal record due to being caught in possession of minor drugs, e.g. cannabis, their futures have been decided for them.
Certain professions, like teaching, require CRB checks that would show up these charges and prevent perfectly safe members of society from pursuing useful, and needed, roles in society.
This will help Wales become a better place to live and help the economy.
More details
As of the 1st of January 2021, Illinos expunged half a million arrest records.
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/illinois-cannabis-arrest-records_n_5fef49d6c5b65a92290e4b41?ri18n=true
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the Senedd or Welsh Government is not responsible for.
The Government of Wales Act 2006 establishes the extent of the Senedd’s power to make new laws and amend existing law (also known as legislative competence). Schedules 7A and 7B of the 2006 Act set out the issues which are ‘restricted’ or ‘reserved’ - i.e. areas where the UK Parliament, not the Senedd, can legislate.
Paragraph 50 of Schedule 7A reserves powers over criminal records, including the disclosure and barring regime operated by the Disclosure and Barring Service (‘DBS checks’), to the UK Parliament. As a result, it is not possible for the Senedd to take the action called for by your petition.
Further information about the legislative powers of the Senedd can be found here:
https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/our-role/powers/
You may wish to consider petitioning the UK Parliament regarding this matter instead: https://petition.parliament.uk/
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards
Rejected petitions are published in the language in which they were submitted