Possession of Pepper Spray Caution Deleted

Our client had been issued with a caution for being illegally in possession of a pepper spray. The client was an international student and originated from a country where pepper spray was legal and widely available.

The client had been in the UK for a number of years and had always had the pepper spray in her possession, and had frequently traveled through Customs into the UK carrying the spray in her hand luggage. On no previous occasion had the client been questioned about the pepper spray, and was completely unaware that it was illegal.

The client was stopped during a routine search into an official premise, whereupon the spray was discovered. The police were quickly summoned, and very shortly afterwards a police caution was issued.

As the client hoped to work in a regulated environment, and had spent many years studying towards this goal, the imposition of the caution would have been extremely detrimental to her career. Pepper spray is classified as a firearm under UK law, and so any disclosure of the caution on a DBS certificate would state that an offence had been committed under firearms legislation.

Despite there being no legal defence in the client’s case, we were however able to successfully persuade the police to expunge the client’s caution, PNC arrest record, and biometric data.

Records Deletion & Professional Disciplinary Solicitors

We have extensive experience in applying for the deletion of police cautions in relation to many different police forces.

Along with applying for the deletion of police cautions, we are also able to assist with the deletion of PNC arrest records, community resolutions, harassment PINs, Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs), biometric data (including custody images) and local police records held on the Police National Database (PND).

Along with applying for the deletion of police records, we can also assist with challenging DBS disclosures on both standard and enhanced DBS certificates. Our lawyers also have extensive experience in challenging DBS barring decisions; both appealing existing barrings, or resisting a new barring application.

We can also assist with applying for the removal of online records, such as unfavourable news articles under the right to be forgotten (the right to erasure).

Also if you, or a loved one, has received a restraining order, we will be able to assist in its removal or amendment.

We are also able to help if you are being investigated by a regulator including the General Medical Council (GMC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the General Optical Council (GOC), the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the General Dental Council (GDC), the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), and the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

In most cases we offer fixed fees, unfortunately we do not offer legal aid.

Please get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.