CRB certificate

CRB certificates reveal all convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that are held on the Police National Computer (PNC).

Who owns the information on the Police National Computer (PNC)?

The police own the information on the Police National Computer (PNC).

The CRB are not the data owners or controllers of the PNC, but the data processors. This means the CRB does not own or determine how information is presented on the PNC, and has no jurisdiction to amend or delete information. Furthermore the CRB does not have direct access to the PNC.

Who decides what information will be revealed?

Under Part V of the Police Act 1997, the police provide the CRB with access to all convictions held on the PNC. 

The same act also states that the CRB has a statutory duty to include on a CRB certificate details of every conviction, caution, reprimand and warning that is recorded on the PNC.

Traffic offences

In addition, police may, at their discretion, disclose other traffic offences that resulted in a Fixed Penalty, where they consider disclosure is necessary and relevant.

For more information about Fixed Penalties please refer to the Ask the Police website (This is a police-based frequently asked questions database).

Can convictions be removed from the Police National Computer?

On the 19th October 2009, a judgement by the Court of Appeal supported the retention of criminal convictions on the PNC for policing purposes. Therefore, the stepping down of convictions is no longer undertaken. In effect this means that all convictions will be retained on the PNC until an individuals 100th birth date.

An individual does however retain the right to contact the police directly about information held about them on the PNC.

Criminal records regime review

Sunita Mason who is conducting the criminal records regime review has made a number of recommendations to the government which include:

  • the Government introduces a filter to remove old and minor conviction information from criminal records checks (recommendation 5)

Protection of Freedoms Bill

The Protection of Freedoms Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 11 February 2011. The bill includes some provisions relating to the disclosure of convictions.

Disclosure of disregarded convictions for consensual gay sex

The bill has also proposed a change in the law which will allow people who were prosecuted for consensual gay sex with a person aged 16 or over, at a time when this was illegal, to apply to have their convictions removed from the PNC and other police records.  As a result, once the bill is in place, these historical convictions will no longer be released as part of a CRB check if the individual has successfully applied to have them removed.

The details of the process have not yet been finalised and the Government will consult with interested organisations about the implementation of any new arrangements in due course.

Please note that this proposal specifically relates to offences for consensual gay sex and does not apply to any other convictions.

Where to find information and advice about criminal records

Nacro

The Nacro Resettlement Plus Helpline 020 7840 7200 (option 2 then option 1) can provide you with information and advice about:

  • whether an individual may have a criminal record. This is based purely on information you give Nacro as they do not have access to the PNC or any other information
  • whether a conviction is spent or unspent
  • how you can get a copy of your own criminal record
  • how you can reassure potential employers about your criminal record

Alternatively, the postal address is Nacro, Park Place, 10-12 Lawn Lane, London, SW8 1UD or you can visit the Nacro Resettlement Plus website.

Unlock

Unlock is the National Association of Reformed Offenders. They are an independent charity and membership organisation, led by reformed offenders.

They provide information and advice to anybody who has a previous conviction, or anybody who is affected by a previous conviction primarily through the information and advice service on the Unlock website.

Apex

The APEX charitable trust operates a helpline to act as a help and reference service to prisoners, ex-offenders, their families, friends and employers. The helpline offers employment advice to people with questions about conviction matters.

The helpline number is 0870 608 4567.

Find more information about employing someone with a criminal record on the Business Link website.