Cautioned by police

[foxyroxy141]

If someone has been cautioned by police for 'common assault' does it mean that they now have a criminal record? I was led to believe (by the police) that the person concerned would still have a clean record but have since been told otherwise......

[seatrout]

A caution is not a criminal conviction as such but the Police will keep a record of it and it could be mentioned in court if for example he was charhed with assaulting someone else

[Buenchico]

The problem is that there's no statutory definition of what a 'criminal record' is. It's generally taken to mean a 'record of criminal convictions', in which case a caution does not create, or form part of, a criminal record.

However, since the creation of the Criminal Records Bureau, a looser definition of 'criminal record' has come about, which means 'information which is held, and can be disclosed by, the CRB'. If this definition is accepted, then a caution does form part of such a record.

There was a similar post just a couple of days ago and you'll find much more detailed information about cautions here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Criminal/Qu estion324852.html

Chris

[foxyroxy141]

Thanks for your help guys. much appreciated x