Police Caution Removal Solicitors

What is a police caution?

If you commit a minor crime, the police can issue you with a caution. A caution is not the same as a conviction, but is still indicative of a criminal offence having been committed. A caution forms part of your criminal record and can have serious implications for employment, travel and other aspects of daily life.

Police cautions can be issued to anyone over the age of 10 years old. If the caution was issued when you were under 18, it may be filtered sooner, but it’s not guaranteed. 

Although a caution isn’t a criminal conviction, it can still appear on standard criminal record checks for up to six years, or even longer in some cases, and may impact your ability to work, travel, or access certain opportunities. Want to know more about how police cautions work, the different types, and what happens if you accept or refuse one? Read our ‘What is a police caution’ blog for the full breakdown.

How long does a police caution stay on your record?

A police caution stays on your criminal record indefinitely, but how and when it appears on background checks depends on the type of check and the nature of the offence.

Standard or Enhanced DBS Checks

Cautions will generally be filtered (removed) from a DBS check after 6 years, provided the offence is not on the list of excluded (serious) offences.

If the offence is serious (e.g. sexual or violent offences)

The caution will not be filtered, meaning it can remain on DBS checks for life, which can impact employment, volunteering, visas, and more.

Important notes

A caution is not a criminal conviction, but it is a formal record of admitting guilt. It is kept on the Police National Computer (PNC) and will usually remain there indefinitely unless successfully removed.

If a caution is affecting your life, especially if you believe it was issued unfairly, legal advice may help you explore removal options.

Implications of employment and travelling abroad with a police caution

If you have received a police caution, youth warning or reprimand, you may have agreed to this without having fully appreciated the ramifications it would have for you in later life. Having a caution on your record may negatively impact you in the advancement of your chosen career, particularly if you intend to work with children or vulnerable adults, or if you wish to enter into a regulated profession. A caution on your record may even impact your travel plans.

It is possible that in certain circumstances, Police cautions can be removed from your record. Find out more information about how to get a police caution removed, or contact specialist caution removal solicitor Mark Hopwell to discuss your case.

Police caution removal costs

At Richard Nelson LLP, we offer a clear and transparent fee structure for police caution removal. While this is a specialist area of law, our team has a high success rate in achieving full deletion of cautions. By instructing experienced professionals, you give yourself the best possible chance of success, making it a worthwhile investment for many clients looking to protect their reputation and future opportunities.

Initial Advice Call

This is often the best first step, especially for more complex cases. You’ll receive tailored legal advice on whether your case has merit and is likely to justify pursuing the deletion process.

Full Deletion Process

This is a fixed-fee service, split into two stages and two instalments:

Stage 1: We gather all necessary evidence and documentation and provide clear advice on the strength of your case. This stage also allows us to work with you to strategise the most effective approach before deciding whether to move forward.

Stage 2: If you choose to proceed, we prepare and submit a full deletion application to the police, supported by a detailed legal bundle.

There is no obligation to proceed to Stage 2, giving you full transparency and control.

Police caution removal FAQs

This FAQ section answers some of the most common queries to help you better understand the process, your rights, and how our police caution removal solicitors can assist.

How far back does the Police National Computer go?

Police cautions are retained on the Police National Computer (PNC) for 100 years. In other words, unless you take steps to have it removed, it will remain on record for life.

Most adult cautions become protected, or “filtered”, after six years and will not automatically appear on a standard or enhanced DBS after that time. However, cautions for offences that appear on the list of  “specified” offences, considered to be the more serious offences related to potential safeguarding issues, are never protected and will always be disclosed on an enhanced and standard check.

Will a police caution be removed after five years on the PNC?

There is a common misconception that a police caution gets removed after five years, likely due to previous rules related to the retention of cautions. The rules around retention and disclosure have changed many times over the years. 

Currently, a police caution is retained on the PNC until the individual reaches 100 years of age, unless it is successfully deleted. While a caution will not appear on a basic DBS check, it will be disclosed on a standard and enhanced DBS check for six years. 

In addition, the police have the discretion to disclose other relevant information on an enhanced DBS check if they believe it is relevant to a particular job role being applied for. Cautions for certain specified offences will always be disclosed, regardless of how much time has passed.

In addition, the police retain a discretion to disclose any caution on an enhanced DBS check (even if it has been filtered), where they deem it to be relevant to the specific DBS check.

The only way a police caution will never show up on a DBS check is if it gets deleted from the PNC.

How likely is it that I can get a caution removed?

The reported national success rate for getting a caution deleted from the PNC is less than 10%, with the deletion of arrest records rate below 20%. At Richard Nelson, we have a success rate of over 70% for removing both. While we cannot guarantee success, by going through our team, your chances of removal and being able to move on with your life are greatly increased.

If you’re wondering what the process involves or whether it’s worth pursuing, we’ve put together a full guide on how to get a police caution removed.