Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the criminal records system to remove spent and childhood convictions from individuals' criminal records.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the criminal records system supports rehabilitation while continuing to protect the public.

Spent convictions and cautions are not disclosed on a basic DBS certificate. However, for roles involving children, vulnerable adults and other sensitive positions, certain spent convictions and cautions may continue to be disclosed where this is considered necessary for safeguarding and public protection.

The Government has committed, through the Youth Justice White Paper, to set out a targeted and proportionate package of potential reforms to the childhood criminal records regime by the end of 2026. This work is considering whether changes are needed to ensure the disclosure regime remains fair and balanced, while continuing to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.