Chief executive says insurers are not treating convicted criminals unfairly

RBS Insurance chief executive Chris Sullivan has defended the industry against accusations it unfairly excludes convicted criminals from insurance.

Sullivan told the ABI’s Tackling Crime Conference today there was no hidden agenda against convicted criminals, but it was a matter for underwriting discipline.

Sullivan said: “The fact is the industry has a clear clarification between convictions and claims. If insurers rate the risk too high, people get excluded.

“It is a similar situation for people who have cancer where the ability to get that granular is limited.”

Moments earlier, Chris Stacey, members services coordinator for UNLOCK, said insurers run a mile as soon as a customer mentions a previous conviction, without even taking into account the relevant details of the conviction.

He said: “There is at least one in five of the working population with a previous conviction, and there is absolutely no route to insurance for them.

“The approach of insurers at premium is ignorant.”

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.

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