What Shows on Your Criminal Record & Why ACRO Deletion Matters
Criminal record disclosure in the UK is governed by a combination of Police National Computer (PNC) retention, DBS filtering rules, and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA). Even when something is spent under the ROA, it may still appear on certain levels of DBS checks unless it is filtered or deleted from the PNC via ACRO. Your service sits at the point where people need clarity: What stays on the record, for how long, and what can be removed? How Long Cautions Stay on Your Record (Excluding Convictions);
Key points:
- “Specified offences” are serious offences Parliament has ruled must always be disclosed.
- Enhanced DBS checks may still include police‑held local information if deemed relevant to the role.
How DBS Filtering Works
Filtering removes certain old or minor cautions/convictions from Standard and Enhanced DBS certificates so they no longer appear. According to the DBS filtering guidance:
- Filtering removes protected cautions and convictions from DBS certificates.
- It applies only to Standard and Enhanced checks, not Basic checks.
- Police may still disclose relevant information on Enhanced checks even if the record is filtered.
What is always disclosed (never filtered)?
- All convictions for specified offences
- Adult cautions for specified offences (Can be deleted via ACRO deletion request)
- Any conviction that resulted in a custodial sentence
What is disclosed only for a limited time?
- Adult cautions (non‑specified) → 6 years
- Adult convictions (non‑specified) → 11 years
- Youth convictions (non‑specified) → 5.5 years
Basic, Standard & Enhanced DBS Checks — What They Show
Basic DBS Check Shows: Unspent convictions and conditional cautions only
Standard DBS Check Shows: Spent & unspent convictions Adult cautions Reprimands & warnings (unless filtered)
Enhanced DBS Check Shows everything in a Standard check plus: Relevant local police information Optionally: Barred List checks
Enhanced checks are required for roles involving children or vulnerable adults.
ACRO Police Certificates (Visa) — What They Show
- All unspent convictions
- Some spent convictions depending on the country’s requirements
- Cautions, warnings, and reprimands unless deleted
- “No Live Trace” or “No Trace” outcomes depending on PNC content - No Live Trace returns can raise issues with Visas as they illustrate a historic police event that will then require disclosure.
ACRO Police Certificates (used for visas, immigration, and overseas work) pull directly from the PNC. They typically show:
Clear Record Consultancy aims to help you remove eligible records from the PNC entirely, which then affects all future disclosures, including police certificates.
National Security Vetting (NSV) — What Gets Seen
National Security Vetting goes far deeper than DBS. Levels include BPSS, CTC, SC, DV. These checks may include:
- Full criminal record checks against the Police National Computer
- Security and intelligence database checks
- Financial checks
- Interviews with you and associates
Important: Even filtered or spent records may still be considered during higher‑level vetting (SC/DV), because vetting is based on risk, not just criminal history.
Clear Record Consultancy specialise in supporting our clients with deletion of eligible cautions and PNC data via ACRO. Following a successful removal:
- The record no longer appears on any DBS level
- It no longer appears on ACRO Police Certificates
- It no longer appears in most NSV criminal‑record‑based checks
- It may still be considered if other agencies hold related intelligence (rare but possible)
Clear Record Consultancy can help clear your past and help your future – contact us today.