Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for how long a conviction or criminal offence is required to be shown a Disclosure and Barring Service check; and whether children and young people under the age of 18 are required to carry forward convictions into adulthood on such a check.

For standard criminal record checks and enhanced criminal record checks, a conviction incurred as an adult is disclosable for 11 years from the date of conviction, and a caution incurred as an adult is disclosable for six years from the date it was issued. A conviction incurred by a person under the age of 18 is disclosable for five and a half years from the date of conviction. A caution, reprimand or warning incurred before the age of 18 is disclosable for two years from the date it was issued.

However, certain specified offences or a conviction receiving a custodial sentence will always be disclosed. If someone has more than one conviction, then all their convictions will be disclosed. The arrangements are set out in the Police Act 1997 as amended by the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates: Relevant Matters) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2013.

A basic certificate will disclose any unspent convictions and conditional cautions as provided for by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.