Criminal record

[bubba28]

How do i find out if i have a criminal record or not? Can i go in to the police station and get a copy of my own?

[Ethel]

That's a real puzzle, bubba.

I would assume that anyone would know if they have a criminal record, but thinking about it things are not so straightforward.

It might be worth your while to go to your local police station and ask - take proof of id with you such as your birth certificate. They should at least be able to point you in the right direction.

Or try Citizens Advice Bureau or NACRO. NACRO especially is very helpful.

[Katie~77]

Try Googling "Criminal Records Bureau". They will tell you what you need to know.

[steve208]

Do you not recall comitting an offence? strange this...i mean surely if you needed to work with vunerable people or something then the CRB do checks and this is just really like an official document you can get to give to an employer so they have an authorititive statement of your suitability to work.

If you dont need a check like this to be made i cant really understand the need for your question...if you know you have done nothing wrong then you wont have a record.

[kempie]

steve208 - did you miss this in the news?

http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39159037,00.htm

[kempie]

...which is a 1300% increase on the previous year.

http://www.politics.co.uk/domestic-policy/crb-errors-label-innocent-brits-as-criminals-$2424300.htm

[steve208]

Hi

No i didnt miss that article.

However if you think carefully this is a slightly different matter...it is a person who HAS a criminal record being confused with someone ...normally with a similar name who DOES have a criminal record. Sorry the capitals are not ment to be rude just to highlight the point.

I see why you could think that the Home Office/CRB mess up could be relevant here but i dont think it is and anyway the person who started this thread originally gave a somewhat confused question so hard to know what they want to know.

[kempie]

It is highly relevant.

If Person A (no criminal record) is confused with Person B (criminal record) by the CRB, then A will have B's criminal record attached to their name.

For all intents and purposes all enquiries to the CRB will show Person A is a criminal.

[BillyNoMates]

Apply to Disclosure Scotland - there is a charge of about �20 for a 'Basic' disclosure which will list any convictions and cautions.

I consider it worth doing if you have any doubts - I recently discovered incorrect information stored about a motoring conviction. Their dispute procedure worked well. They contacted the Police force who 'owned' the incorrect information and put the matter right.

[Mortartube]

Surely, you should be entitled to see all of the records held on you, under the freedom of information act?

[Grunty]

You have a right under the Freedom of Information Act to be told what information is held about you by public bodies, including the police. The application must be in writing.

This site will give further details. http://www.foi.gov.uk/faqs.htm

[Buenchico]

There are plenty of exemptions from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. See Section 2 of the Act, here:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2000/20000036. htm

Additionally, the FOI Act deals primarily with information other than that stored about private individuals. The right to see information which others have about yourself is generally granted by the provisions of the Data Protection Act, rather than the FOI Act.

Unfortunately, neither of these Acts give you the right to see information about yourself which is stored by the Criminal Records Bureau.
Quote: "The current legislation does not allow the self-employed or individuals to apply for a CRB check on themselves."
Source: http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=381

Chris

[Lordofwar]

I used to work for the Crown Prosecution Service - if you had asked your question a year ago I could have checked your records and could have told you whether you were of good character or not (i.e. whether you have previous convictions).

Anyway, under the Data Protection Act you are entitled to know exactly what information other organisations are holding about you. So make an application under the DPA. Good luck.

[jmahdavi]

I know this is late but:

As mentioned previously Freedom of Information has exepmtions, one of which relates to personal data, which Criminal Records would fall under, in this case it is covered by the Data Protection Act.

You can apply in writing for details held about yourself which are covered by the data protection act, but the organisation/body that holds the details can charge you a fee, this is capped at �10 per request though!