Deed poll name change and the police

Trason1996

Hey all,

I need some help.

I was arrested in the early 2000s for speeding and was given a fine. I changed my name about five years ago and I have had it updated everywhere e.g. a new passport and driving license.

I never bothered getting my name updated on the Polixe National Computer. In fact, I just totally forgot about it. Is getting my name updated at the police station just the same as getting it updated at the doctors or hospital? Shall I just go to my local police station and show an officer my deed poll?

I would feel like an idiot if I were ever asked to give my name to the police and have to state my former name when I have not been known as that for a long time.

I understand that my former name will always be recorded somewhere just in case of something like a CRB (now DBS) check, but I want it to be where when a police officer looks at their computer my first name and last name are my current names and not my former names and there is no mention of my former names.

Thanks all.

pogofish

If you were just fined, it would surely be spent by now? - I can’t remember when the High Risk” category was introduced but IIRC even that is considered spent ten years after any judgement/sentence is satisfied?

Trason1996

pogofish wrote: »

If you were just fined, it would surely be spent by now? - I can’t remember when the High Risk” category was introduced but IIRC even that is considered spent ten years after any judgement/sentence is satisfied?

Yes.

But, I don’t like the idea of having my name updated everywhere apart from one place. I have read that people who have a criminal record or a pending criminal case against you them must notify the police (obviously).

However, I never get into any trouble, but the police may ask me for my details if I were to witness an accident, etc.

I would have that it would just be the case of going to my local police station and telling a police officer there I have changed my name and wish for it to be updated on their system.

TonyMMM

You won't have got a PNC nominal ( I.e criminal) record for speeding ... not a recordable offence. The only record would have been on your driving licence at DVLA (which could be accessed through the PNC) but that will have been deleted long ago.

In any case a name never gets changed on a PNC record - the new name would just be added as an additional name.

Trason1996

TonyMMM wrote: »

You won't have got a PNC nominal ( I.e criminal) record for speeding ... not a recordable offence. The only record would have been on your driving licence at DVLA (which could be accessed through the PNC) but that will have been deleted long ago.

In any case a name never gets changed on a PNC record - the new name would just be added as an additional name.

Actually, you are not entirely correct. I rang up my local police station earlier today and explained my situation. The policeman on the phone explained to me that an additional name is just used for people who are known by a nickname or something other than their full name. But, it is possible to get one’s name or any other detail changed on the PNC so that is all that shows up on the computer screen e.g. name or gender, but the person’s given name or any other detail will be the same as the original on a DBS check.

TBagpuss

A speeding fine is normally spent after 1 year and points after 5, so I doubt it has much relevance.

I think that the 'exisiting or pending criminal proceedings' means that if you have current ongoing proceedings against you (e.g. if you had been charged and were waiting for a trial, or had been tried and were waiting for sentencing) or pending proceedings(e.g. you were under investigation, and had been arrested or interviewed but had not yet been charged) you would have to notify the police station.

It doesn't mean that you have to inform them if you have a historic conviction, particularly one which is spent.

If you had unspent convictions which would appear on a DBS check then it would make sense to update your name on the police computer,

Trason1996

Even people who are innocent, but have been arrested in the past will still have their details kept on the PNC.

The law requires those with existing or pending criminal prosecutions against them to notify the police. Other than that, one is free to change their name legally without informing the police.

Although some people who have been arrested in the past and have changed their name legally may not be bothered about the police having their old details, I want my details to be up to date everywhere. Thus, I’m going to my local police station tomorrow to get it sorted. It’s easy to get changed so no problems.