Is a police caution a criminal record? The short answer to this question is yes – a caution is a criminal record. However what actually constitutes a “criminal record” is not a precisely defined concept, and the better question to ask is, in what circumstances will my caution be disclosed?
A caution will become an issue for someone depending on who is asking the question, and the powers they have to ask about previous criminal records.
A caution is “spent” immediately (or after three months, or when the conditions run out, in respect of a conditional caution). So for the purposes of a Basic DBS certificate a police caution (sometimes known as a simple caution), will not be disclosed.
For other people however, who need to undertake a trusted/regulated role, then the caution will have more significant implications. For more details please see our article here: How long does a police caution stay on your record?
