Can you be in the police with a criminal record?
If you do have any criminal convictions or cautions on record you can still apply, eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence.
If you have a criminal record, it can be an obstruction to get a job, apply for university, rent a house, or even travel. It may stop you from getting on with your life. In the UK, the Police National Computer (PNC) stores all recordable offences. It remains there until the person becomes 100 years old.
Felony convictions. Serious misdemeanors. Current drug use or past drug abuse. Dishonorable discharge from military service.
Since 2006, the police retain details of all recordable offences until you reach 100 years of age. Your conviction will always show on your police records but the conviction may not show on your criminal record check that is used for employment vetting purposes.
Criminal convictions and cautions
All convictions, cautions (including any received as a juvenile), involvement in any criminal investigation and bind-overs imposed by a court must be declared. They don't automatically mean you'll be rejected from joining the police service.
You can apply to have your criminal record expunged when: a period of 10 years has passed after the date of the conviction for that offence. you have not been convicted and sentenced to a period of imprisonment without the option of a fine during those 10 years. the sentence was corporal punishment.
Depending on the role, employers may be required to check whether you have a criminal record. These roles will be subject to a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (known as a DBS check).
- Jobs that involve working with children or vulnerable adults.
- Senior roles in banking or finance.
- Law enforcement roles, including the police and judiciary.
- The military, navy and air force.
- Work involving national security.
If the person was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense (i.e. legally considered to be an adult), then the conviction will be expunged from their record 11 years after the conviction date (not the offense date).
Criminal convictions
Police forces are therefore entitled to ask prospective applicants to reveal spent convictions during the recruitment or vetting process. This does not apply to spent convictions of applicants' families. individual basis. Eligibility will depend on the nature and circumstances of the offence.
What is the main reason police officer job applicants are rejected?
Criminal Record
Felony records are the most relevant part of determining whether or not you are suitable for employment as a police officer. Crimes especially violence or domestic abuse can be problematic.
There are some convictions that will lead to automatic failure of vetting. These include but are not limited to murder, firearms offences, domestic violence offences, any dishonesty related offence, for example fraud, and offences with a hate aggravation such as race.

The easiest and cheapest way to find out your criminal record is to apply for a copy of your police records from the Police. You're entitled to exercise your rights to obtain information that is held about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. This process is known as a Subject Access Request.
The USA have a visa waiver programme for any person holding passports from certain countries (United Kingdom passports are included) as long as that person has never been arrested and/or convicted. If you have been arrested, you must declare it whether or not that arrest resulted in a conviction.
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There are a number of different types of prison sentence that the courts can impose:
- Suspended sentences.
- Determinate sentences.
- Extended sentences.
- Life sentences.
There is no upper age limit for appointment, but it should be noted that police forces want to ensure that they receive a reasonable return on their investment in training.
Visible tattoos are deemed unacceptable, for example those located on the neck, face or hands or if they could reasonably be interpreted as: discriminatory. offensive. indicative of attitudes or views which are inconsistent with the College of Policing's code of ethics and standards of professional behaviour.
Most forces allow officers to display tattoos although it is a decision for each chief constable. However, College of Policing Guidelines state that visible ink artwork is unacceptable only if it could be deemed “discriminatory, offensive or not comply with its Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour”.
If you were convicted for a minor or major case, the court of law will automatically clear it without any concern of a lawyer,” she says.
What is a criminal record? A criminal record is where all the convictions of a person are listed. A conviction will remain on a person's criminal record for a period of 10 years.
Can you go to Canada with a criminal record from UK?
Under Canada's immigration law, you may be refused entry to Canada if you have been convicted of a criminal offence. However, this will depend on the crime, how long ago it was and how you have behaved since.
Can I still apply for a nursing or midwifery course? Yes. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot study or work in the nursing profession. Most nursing and midwifery courses will require a placement in a relevant setting.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from becoming a firefighter. If you have a criminal record, you will have to declare this during the application process. You will be subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 which you will need to read, as each offence will be different.
Simply having a criminal record does not prevent you from getting a job. In a limited number of cases, certain convictions may prevent you from working in certain roles, but, you are likely to already know about this if it applies to you.
On application, the Royal Mail Group will require your consent to carry out a basic criminal record check as part of the recruitment process. There is also a list of 'unspent' criminal offences that are considered unacceptable in new employees.