Thousands locked out of jobs because of mistakes in youth, campaigners say

Exclusive: more than a third of childhood offences on DBS certificates happened over 40 years ago

• We were just rowdy 16-year-olds': how police caution blighted a career

Thousands of people risk being unfairly locked out of jobs because of mistakes in their youth, campaigners have said, as new data showed childhood offences were disclosed in more than 11,000 criminal records checks last year.

Politicians and justice campaigners are calling for a reform to the criminal records check system. They say the widespread release of minor historical offences does not protect the public and leaves people with no opportunity for a clean slate.