Spent and unspent convictions – when you might have to disclose them

Aim

This page provides a simple overview of the practical ways that convictions might come up in day-to-day life, and how that might change depending on whether the convictions are unspent or spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Why is this important?

Convictions and criminal records can have an impact in a range of ways. Sometimes, whether it’s unspent or spent is important. Sometimes, the fact that it’s spent doesn’t stop it potentially causing a problem. There’s a lot of confusion about how the law applies in different situation.

Areas of life

The table above is only a summary and each of these areas (and others) are covered in detail elsewhere on the Information Hub.  For further details see:-

• Disclosing to employers
• Volunteering
• Education and training
• Insurance
• Housing
• Travel Abroad
• Travel to the UK
• Being a victim of crime
• Police records

Get involved

Help us to add value to this information. You can:

1. Comment on this information (below)
2. Send your feedback directly to us
3. Discuss your views and experiences with others on our online forum
4. Share your personal story by personal experience or story by contributing to our online magazine, theRecord