Police Record Deletion in the UK

In the UK, police records are kept on the Police National Computer for 100 years, and these can only be removed under certain circumstances.

At JD Spicer Zeb, we understand that having your records kept indefinitely can be concerning, particularly if you were not convicted of an offence.

The following article clarifies who can apply for police record deletion in the UK and how to do this.

Please note that the following article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. If you need legal support with removing a criminal record, please get in touch, and our team can advise you.

How long are police records kept?

Police records are generally kept in one of two places: on the Police National Computer (PNC) or locally by individual police forces.

Police National Computer (PNC)

Convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings are kept on the PNC for 100 years, even if they later become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Arrest records, including cases where no charge was brought or the case was dropped, also typically remain on the PNC indefinitely, although you can apply to have them deleted.

Local records

Local forces keep information such as callouts, stop-and-search records and incident reports. These records are usually reviewed after 6 to 10 years, but they may be retained longer, and sometimes indefinitely, for intelligence purposes.

Do police records get deleted?

Police National Computer (PNC)

In the UK, expunging a spent conviction means removing it from certain background checks, such as DBS certificates, but not deleting it from the PNC. This filtering process is only possible once a conviction becomes spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, which depends on the sentence and the person’s age at conviction.

A spent police caution can be removed from the PNC, but this requires a formal application to the ACRO Records Deletion Unit. The process involves submitting a detailed request, often with the support of a solicitor. If the police approve the application, the caution will be deleted from the PNC.

Local records

Local police forces also hold their own intelligence records, including details of incidents, investigations and allegations, even where no charges were brought.

You can request the deletion of these local records by contacting the relevant police force. The decision will be made by the chief officer in line with Authorised Professional Practice (APP) guidelines.

What is the record deletion process?

Police National Computer (PNC)

You can request deletion of PNC records through the Record Deletion Process (RDP) by downloading and submitting the application form available on the ACRO Criminal Records Office website.

Our specialist police record deletion solicitors can assist with the application and ensure that all necessary supporting evidence is included to maximise your chance of success.

Once submitted, ACRO will assess your request by considering the public interest, the seriousness of the case and any relevant risk factors. If approved, the record may be removed from the PNC. If refused, you will be notified and can request a review or seek further legal advice.

Local records

The RDP applies only to records held on national databases, including the PNC, the National DNA Database and the fingerprint database. It does not apply to records held locally by police forces, such as custody images.

These local records are managed separately by chief officers in line with Authorised Professional Practice (APP) guidance.

How to clear your criminal record in the UK

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA), most convictions become spent after a set rehabilitation period, which varies depending on the offence, and once any court orders have expired.

When a conviction is spent, it no longer appears on a basic criminal record check and will only show on an enhanced DBS check unless it is later filtered.

You can apply to the DBS to have a criminal record deleted by completing an application and providing supporting evidence. The DBS will review your case and decide whether to remove the record.

However, deleting a DBS record does not remove the underlying conviction from the Police National Computer.

If you need help clearing your criminal record, our specialist police record deletion solicitors can advise and support you.

Fees and funding

For an initial consultation and assessment of your case, our fees will range from £750 plus VAT.

Detailed applications will cost from £1,000 plus VAT.

Related offences

We also provide support and guidance on various other matters that are related to criminal records, including:

• Serious crime
• Assault and violent crime
• Common assault
• Armed robbery
• Domestic violence
• Grievous bodily harm
• Possession of an offence weapon
• Racially or religiously aggravated offences
• Robbery
• Self-defence as a legal defence

Related cases

• No Further Action at Charing Cross Police Station for Theft
• No Further Action at Holborn Police Station for Common Assault

Contact our police record deletion solicitors solicitors today

If you would like to enquire about getting your police records removed or need urgent specialist advice, please do not hesitate to contact us.

You can contact our police record deletion solicitors in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

• Brent & Camden London Office: 0207 624 7771
• Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638
• Birmingham Office: 0121 614 3333
• City of London: 0207 624 7771 (our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the City)

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you quickly.

24/7 legal representation

For immediate representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556, and we will provide a prompt, friendly response.