DBS check help needed

John_Aloisi

Oddjob wrote: »

Hi, thanks for your reply, the only thing she was asked to sign was a barring order from the supermarket chain which said if she entered their stores again she would be treated as a trespasser and the police would be called, don't know what they would do if she was just shopping and not doing anything wrong but after such an experience neither of us wants to use that chain again anyway.
The policeman didn't give her anything to sign and all he seemed to do was make a note of her name and address in his notebook then ring to check she was registered at that address so the store knew she hadn't given false details, she asked if that would mean she now had a criminal record and he said no it didn't. She was not aware of a crime number being created.


It was just a horrible, frightening experience for someone who hadn't knowingly done anything wrong.

I'm sure it was. I suppose you have to appreciate that there are a lot of serial shoplifters.

I would guess the officer rang it in to check if she had a record of shoplifting and once they said they had no trace of her on the system, the officer probably accepted her explanation and it was NFA'd.

Oddjob

Thanks, so I take it it wouldn't show up on an enhanced DBS check?


She was upset enough by it but it would be awful if it also stopped her getting work.
Just out of interest, what would happen if she ventured into one of their stores and the police were called to her as a trespasser, would she just be asked to leave or would further action be taken. I didn't think any action was taken for trespassing as long as no damage is caused.

John_Aloisi

Oddjob wrote: »

Thanks, so I take it it wouldn't show up on an enhanced DBS check?


She was upset enough by it but it would be awful if it also stopped her getting work.
Just out of interest, what would happen if she ventured into one of their stores and the police were called to her as a trespasser, would she just be asked to leave or would further action be taken. I didn't think any action was taken for trespassing as long as no damage is caused.

The info wouldn't have gone anywhere. It's very unlikely her details have even been inputted under the crime reference. Even if they have it's purely for force intelligence, it doesn't transfer anywhere. I don't deal with disclosure but as far as I'm aware they just check previous convictions on the Police National Computer.

Banning orders are a matter for the store, not a police matter. If would be an aggravating factor if someone was caught shoplifting who had already been banned from the store. Then they would probably be charged. If say she ventured into the store, she would be asked to leave and the police would only be called if she refused. It's a civil matter though.

The only time I ever see someone charged with criminal trespass is people found on industrial sites suspected of looking for things to steal (e.g. metal).

Oddjob

Thank you so much for your help, much appreciated.


Ha ha, I can't see either of us ever wanting to darken their doorsteps again, I just wondered out of curiosity.


I suppose I can understand the store security stopping her, like you say, she could have been a serial shoplifter although risking getting caught for the sake of a couple of £'s worth of dog treats hardly seems worth it. She obviously couldn't deny they were found in her trolley unpaid for, it was just the fact it was not intentional that upset her so much.


She is so scared of going shopping and it happening again that she daren't even take a bag in store so there is no chance of it happening again.

John_Aloisi

I'm not sure if this was clear but a caution is basically an admission of guilt, the same as pleading guilty at court. Accepting a caution just saves you from going to court, it is still a conviction.

There's no real way a person of sound mind could accept a caution without realising it.

Oddjob

It certainly doesn't sound as though she was given a caution, she was given nothing to sign except the barring order which she was given a copy of. She said the policeman was actually very nice, he certainly didn't warn her of any consequences or ask her to sign anything. When she asked if she would get a criminal record from it, he said no although he did say they would record the details in case it happened again. She says at no time was the word 'caution' mentioned so as you say, I'm sure she would have known if she had been given one. Thanks again for your help.

Oddjob

Having just Googled 'police caution' she certainly wasn't given one and the store said they were taking no further action.


She had insisted all along that it was not intentional and that she didn't know the items were under her bag until stopped. So in that respect she did not accept guilt.