When is a caution Spent?

When is a police caution spent is a question you may ask if you are applying for a new job. The short answer to this question is that a caution is spent immediately.

This means that your caution will be spent as soon as you receive it, and will not be revealed on a basic DBS certificate.

The only exception to this rule is if you received a conditional caution. If you received a conditional caution it will become spent as soon as the conditions expire, up to a maximum of three months.

All will be well for your job application, if all you need is a Basic DBS certificate. The issue for you to determine will be what type of certificate do you actually need?

If you hope to work in a regulated role, you will need either a standard or an enhanced DBS certificate.

If you work in a regulated role in finance, accounting, or the law you will need a standard DBS certificate.

If you work with children or vulnerable adults, then you will need an enhanced DBS certificate.

If you need either an enhanced or standard DBS certificate, the issue for you will not be “when is a caution spent” but “when does a police caution become protected”.

Please see here, for information about when a police caution will become protected.

Some cautions will never become protected, and even when a caution becomes protected, it will be held on the Police National Computer (PNC) until you reach 100 years of age.

Along with causing employment difficulties, a police caution can also cause significant issues with respect to immigration.

For details on how a caution will impact overseas immigration, please see our article here: What is a Police Certificate?

If you have a police caution, and it is causing you issues, then please get in touch to discuss your case.

We are the leading practice specialising in police record deletion and DBS appeals.

We have had hundreds of successful cases, having police cautions and other records deleted with police forces across England and Wales.

Due to our extensive experience, we will be able to advise from the outset whether you have a good chance of success or not.

In all cases we offer reasonable fixed fees. Please get in touch today to arrange an initial consultation.