Police Caution - expired?

[Deleted User]

Hi guys,

I received a police caution for a fight when I was 18, I'm now 35 and I was just wondering if they expire after a set time? I ask because I've just had an advanced security (SC) check done on me at work and it's come back completely clear... Even though I've always declared it, well, my last job 7 years ago was as a teacher, so it was always on my CRB, it seems odd that it's now completely vanished - unless it has expired?

Looking for a bit of clarification

Thanks.

Comms69

It's complex - cautions are considered spent (thank you sangie for correcting terminology) immediately. However are reportable on standard BDS for 5 years.


Enhanced DBS always


ultimately it's not a relevant conviction 17 years on.

sangie595

Cautions are spent immediately. The reason why it doesn't show up is because a security check is different from a CRB (now DBS) check. Apply for a regulated role again, and it will show.

Huskydays

slipd wrote: »

Hi guys,

I received a police caution for a fight when I was 18, I'm now 35 and I was just wondering if they expire after a set time? I ask because I've just had an advanced security (SC) check done on me at work and it's come back completely clear... Even though I've always declared it, well, my last job 7 years ago was as a teacher, so it was always on my CRB, it seems odd that it's now completely vanished - unless it has expired?

Looking for a bit of clarification

Thanks.

Unless expunged; cautions are held on the PNC until you are 100 so in that context they do expire but not yet.
Whether they show up or not will depend on the type of checks being done. In terms of language, afaik there's no type of check known as an advanced SC check, so I'm not 100% sure which type of check you have undergone. As such, I'll give you the lowdown on the ones I know about (prepare yourself for acronyms!):

Basic DBS checks/Basic Disclosures
Do not show cautions unless they are conditional. Conditional cautions will show for 3 months or until the condition ends (whichever comes first).

Standard DBS checks:
Will show cautions on this list forever
Cautions not on that list will be 'filtered' (stop showing) after 6 years (2 years if you were under 18 when cautioned).
They started 'filtering' in 2013, prior to this there was a period when everything showed up and before that, there was a period where the police would pick and chose what showed up.

Enhanced DBS checks:
Same as standard DBS checks but the police can include information about 'filtered' cautions in the intelligence section if they believe it is relevant to the job role.

SC/CTC/DV/EDV checks:
If we're talking Security Check (SC) or Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) (you would have filled out something like this or an online equivalent):
This will check all information held on police records no matter how old, so your caution definitely would have shown up. However a 'result' of what was found will not be shared with anyone, not even your boss, unless a serious (like a threat to national security serious) risk is identified.
There are also Developed Vetting and Enhanced Developed Vetting which are similar to SC and CTC but go way more in depth.