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The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c.53) governs the management and content of criminal records in the UK. A criminal record (or disclosure) is a set of information regarding a person who has been convicted of, or cautioned for, a criminal offense. The UK Criminal Records Bureau provides disclosures to employers requiring a background check of job applicants.
What information does a Disclosure contain?
Disclosures contain details of criminal convictions, official cautions and warnings, that are taken from the Police National Computer (PNC).
Types of Criminal Record Disclosures
There are two types of disclosures: Basic and Enhanced. The level of disclosure relates to the sensitivity of job for which an individual is applying.
Basic Disclosure
A basic disclosure provides details of conditional cautions. It also includes details of any current convictions that are unspent.
Enhanced Disclosure
An enhanced disclosure contains the same information as a basic disclosure together with any extra information police believe is relevant to a sensitive job, such as posts involving contact with elderly and at-risk adults or minors.
How long does a Criminal Record last?
According to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Retention Guidelines, criminal disclosure information is retained for 100 years.
Source:
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Criminal Records Retention Guidelines
Resource:
UK Criminal Records Bureau
Criminal Records Employer Information
UK Criminal Records Fact Sheet
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