We have again had another police caution and arrest record deleted for one of our clients. The caution was issued in the context of a domestic dispute.

The police were called and wrongly arrested the client. The client was taken into custody and placed in a police cell.

After taking fingerprints and a DNA sample, the client was interviewed. After the interview a caution was offered which was agreed to by the client, who was anxious to return to her young children.

Little information was provided by the police with respect to the implications of the caution, and the client was rushed into making a very quick decision. It was only after the client was released from custody did she become aware of the significant implications of the caution.

That’s brilliant news – I can’t believe it! Thank you so much

After we assessed the case, we were able to identify serious defects in the police caution procedure. We made prompt representations to the police arguing for deletion.

After a relatively short period of time, the police not only agreed to expunge the client’s police caution, they also agreed to delete the client’s arrest record (please see here: for more information on deletion of arrest records).

The client is now able to resume her career in education without worrying about disclosure of any unfavourable information on a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate.

If you, or a loved one, has as police record including police cautions, arrest records, PNDs, harassment warnings, fingerprint records, DNA records or local CRIS reports, then please get in touch. We have successfully applied to the police for deletion of many clients’ records.

We usually offer reasonable fixed fees for our services and always aim to settle a case without the need for court.

If the police refuse to remove criminal records, we are prepared, and have significant experience of, issuing judicial review proceedings.

We unfortunately do not offer our services under legal aid.

Our client had been accused and arrested for an assault allegation.

The client, after spending the night in a police cell, worrying about work the next day, readily accepted the police’s version of events and accepted a police caution.

The police told the client the caution was of limited consequence and if he didn’t agree to it he would be prosecuted.

After leaving police custody, the client investigated the true implications of the caution, and the correct procedures the police ought to have adopted at the police station. The client then contacted us.

After accessed his case, we were able to identify errors in the caution procedure adopted by the police and the client’s arrest.

We promptly made representations to the police who ultimately agreed to not only delete the client’s police caution, but also agreed to expunge the clients arrest record, DNA, finger prints and custody photograph.

Thank you for the great news and the wonderful service. I wish every solicitor I have dealt with was as responsive as you.

Arrest Record Deletion

When a suspect is arrested, the police will create a Police National Computer (PNC) arrest record.

An arrest record will be retained indefinitely (until the person is 100 years old) unless the police agree to delete it. An arrest record will therefore be created even if a suspect is never cautioned nor convicted.

An arrest record can cause an individual difficulties as it can be disclosed on enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates.

Police Caution and Arrest Record Deletion

We have extensive experience of challenging the retention of police records, including DNA, fingerprints, police cautions, arrest records, PND’s and other non-conviction records (such as local CRIS reports).

If you, or a loved one, are troubled by an existing police record then please get in touch. We offer our services on reasonable fixed fees in most cases.

Disclosure and Barring Service Appeals

Along with successfully applying for the expungement of police records, we also are often instructed to challenging DBS certificates and DBS applications to bar.

If you have received a DSB certificate with information you dispute, then we are able to assist you appealing your certificate.

If you have already been placed on the barred list, we can apply to have you removed. If the DBS have written to you expressing their intention to place you on either the children or adults barred list, or both, then we are able to assist – we have helped many clients resist being placed on the barred lists.

If you have received a police caution, especially if it is for a more serious offence, and particularly if it is of a sexual nature, the DSB at some stage are likely to instigate the barring procedure against you. Given our experience in this field, we are well positioned to challenge both the retention of your police caution and any DBS barring application.