What you need to know, in brief.
- Having an unspent conviction can affect many areas of your life for example, claiming compensation if you are the victim of crime.
- If your case was reported in the media, details of it may remain online for many years after it becomes spent.
- Your criminal record may impact on other family members you live with, especially if they are employed in a job which requires enhanced DBS checks.
Information & Advice Articles
Can I claim compensation if I am the victim of a crime?
Yes but your eligibility will be reduced if you have an unspent conviction.
Details of my criminal record can be read online - what can I do?
If your conviction is spent you can apply to Google to have the search results removed. Alternatively you can write to the website or publication in which your story appears.
I'm worried about disclosing my criminal record to my new partner, family members and friends.
Personal Stories
Hear directly from people with convictions about their experiences living as a law abiding person with criminal convictions.
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Do you need help & support with an issue you’re facing?
We provide support and advice for people in England and Wales who need guidance with either their own, or someone else’s, criminal record.
Please use the search box to start typing your issue. If you cannot find an answer to your problem then you’ll be given options to contact us directly.
Popular advice
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- Information contained on UK passports
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