Community Resolution: What It Means and When to Refuse (2026)
In Brief
A community resolution is an informal, non-statutory disposal used by police in England and Wales to deal with low-level criminal offences without taking the matter to court. It is not a conviction and does not appear on your criminal record. However, it is recorded on local police systems. It may be disclosed on an enhanced DBS check in limited circumstances, although this is rare. Accepting a community resolution requires you to either admit guilt or accept responsibility, which is why you should always seek legal advice before agreeing to one. If you have been offered a community resolution and are unsure whether to accept, a criminal defence solicitor can advise you on the potential consequences and whether refusal may be the better option.
Important: A community resolution is not the same as a Community Order, which is a court-imposed sentence under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 involving requirements such as unpaid work or a curfew.
What is a Community Resolution?
A community resolution is a way for police to resolve minor criminal matters outside the formal criminal justice system. Rather than charging someone and sending the case to court, the police use a community resolution to deal with the matter quickly and proportionately.
Community resolutions are a type of out-of-court disposal.
For a community resolution to be offered, the person must either admit the offence, or accept responsibility for what happened. In most cases, the views of the victim are also taken into account, and any resolution should be agreed with them where possible.
A community resolution is not a police caution, and it is not a conviction. It does not result in a criminal record, but it can be recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC).
How Does a Community Resolution Work?
The process for a community resolution typically follows these steps:
- The police investigate a report of a low-level offence - This could be minor criminal damage, low-value theft, minor assault, harassment, or antisocial behaviour.
- The suspect admits the offence or accepts responsibility - You must either admit that you committed the offence, or accept responsibility for what happened. Without this admission or acceptance, a community resolution cannot be offered.
- The victim is consulted - Where there is an identifiable victim, the police will ask whether they support a community resolution rather than formal prosecution. The victim’s views are important but not always decisive.
- An agreement is reached - The resolution might involve a verbal or written apology, compensation to the victim, participation in restorative justice, or an agreement to attend a course or programme.
- The resolution is recorded - The police record the community resolution on their local systems. It may also be entered on the PNC.
Some community resolutions involve restorative justice, where the offender meets the victim (with support from a trained facilitator) to discuss the impact of the offence and agree how to make amends. This is not compulsory and only takes place if both parties agree.
What Offences Can a Community Resolution Be Used For?
Community resolutions are designed for low-level, first-time or early offending. According to the NPCC Community Resolution Guidance, they may be used for offences such as:
- Minor assault (common assault with no or minimal injury)
- Low-value theft or shoplifting
- Minor criminal damage
- Harassment or malicious communications
- Minor public order offences
- Low-level drug possession (e.g. cannabis for personal use)
- Antisocial behaviour
Community resolutions are not appropriate for:
- Serious violent or sexual offences
- Domestic abuse (except in exceptional circumstances, requiring an Inspector’s authority)
- Hate crime (except in exceptional circumstances, requiring an Inspector’s authority)
- Cases where the suspect has received two or more previous community resolutions
The decision to offer a community resolution is at the discretion of the police officer, guided by national and local force policy. If you have been offered a community resolution, you should seek legal advice from a solicitor.
Does a Community Resolution Give You a Criminal Record?
No. A community resolution does not give you a criminal record. It is not a conviction or a caution, but may be recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC).
This means:
- It will not appear on a basic DBS check
- It will not appear on a standard DBS check
- You do not need to disclose it as a “conviction” on most application forms
- It does not trigger notification requirements of any kind
However, this does not mean there is no record at all. The community resolution is recorded on the local police force’s information systems and can be accessed for intelligence purposes. It may also be recorded on your PNC. This has implications for enhanced DBS checks and future dealings with the police, as explained below.
Does a Community Resolution Show on a DBS Check?
The answer depends on the type of DBS check:
Basic DBS check: No. A community resolution will not appear.
Standard DBS check: No. A community resolution will not appear.
Enhanced DBS check: Possibly. An enhanced DBS check includes a section for “other relevant information” disclosed at the discretion of the local police force. If the community resolution is considered relevant to the role you are applying for, the police may choose to disclose it.
For example, if you received a community resolution for a minor assault and you are applying for a role working with children or vulnerable adults, the police may decide to include this information on your enhanced DBS certificate.
The police must follow the Quality Assurance Framework when deciding whether to disclose non-conviction information on enhanced DBS checks. They must demonstrate that the disclosure is relevant, proportionate, and necessary. You can challenge a disclosure decision if you believe it is unfair.
If you are concerned about a community resolution appearing on an enhanced DBS check, contact our team for advice.
Can You Refuse a Community Resolution?
Yes. You are not obliged to accept a community resolution. It is entirely voluntary.
However, you should understand what happens if you refuse:
If you refuse, the police must decide what to do next. They may:
- Take no further action (NFA) and close the case
- Refer the case for a formal out-of-court disposal (such as a Diversionary Caution or Community Caution)
- Refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision, which could lead to prosecution at the Magistrates’ Court
Refusing a community resolution does not automatically mean you will be charged. The police and CPS must still apply the evidential and public interest tests. If the evidence is insufficient to charge, the case may be dropped regardless of your refusal.
When you should consider refusing:
- You did not commit the offence and do not want to admit responsibility
- You are concerned about the impact on enhanced DBS checks
- You work in a regulated profession where any police record could affect your career
When accepting may be sensible:
- The offence is genuinely minor and you accept responsibility
- You want to avoid the stress and uncertainty of formal proceedings
- The victim supports the resolution and you want to make amends
Before making this decision, you should always speak to a criminal defence solicitor. The choice to accept or refuse can have long-term consequences that are not always obvious.
What Happens If You Breach a Community Resolution?
Because a community resolution is non-statutory and informal, there is no formal legal mechanism to enforce it.
In practice, if you fail to comply with the agreed terms (for example, you do not pay agreed compensation or do not attend an agreed programme), the police may:
- Record the breach on their systems, which could influence how they deal with you in future
- Decide to take no further action
- In some cases, reconsider whether to pursue the original matter through formal channels such as a charge
The lack of formal enforcement is one of the reasons community resolutions are considered the most informal level of out-of-court disposal.
How Long Does a Community Resolution Stay on Your Record?
There is no fixed national retention period, and practices vary between forces.
Because a community resolution is not a conviction and has no statutory rehabilitation period under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, it becomes harder for the police to justify disclosing it on enhanced DBS checks as time passes.
If you want to check what information the police hold about you, you can make a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act 2018 to the relevant police force.
Get Expert Legal Advice
If you have been offered a community resolution, the decision to accept or refuse can have consequences that are not immediately obvious – particularly for employment, DBS checks, and future interactions with the criminal justice system.
At JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors, our criminal defence team can:
- Advise you on whether to accept or refuse a community resolution
- Explain how it could affect your DBS checks and employment
- Represent you if the police decide to pursue formal charges
- Help you challenge unfair disclosure on enhanced DBS certificates
Contact us today for free initial advice. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call:
- London: 020 7624 7771
- Birmingham: 0121 614 3333
- Manchester: 0161 835 1638
- 24/7 Emergency Line: 07836 577 556
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a community resolution the same as a caution?
No. A community resolution is an informal, non-statutory disposal. A caution is a formal, statutory disposal that is recorded on the Police National Computer and forms part of your criminal record. A community resolution is not a criminal record.
Do I need to declare a community resolution on job applications?
In most cases, no. Because a community resolution is not a conviction or a caution, you are generally not required to disclose it when asked about criminal convictions. However, some application forms (particularly for roles in policing, the military, or security-cleared positions) may ask about “any contact with the police” or “any out-of-court disposals,” in which case you should answer honestly.
Can a community resolution be revoked or overturned?
A community resolution cannot be “revoked” in the traditional sense since it is not a court order. However, if you believe the process was unfair or that you were pressured into accepting, you can make a complaint through the police force’s complaints procedure or contact the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). If you were not properly informed of your rights or did not genuinely admit responsibility, the resolution may be open to challenge.
Is a community resolution an admission of guilt?
Unlike a caution, accepting a community resolution does not necessarily require you to admit the offence. It may be sufficient for you to accept responsibility for what has happened. However, even in the case of an admission of guilt, this is not a formal guilty plea in the way that a court conviction would be. The admission is made to the police rather than a court, and it does not result in a conviction.
What happens if you refuse a community resolution order?
If you refuse, the police must reconsider how to handle the case. They may decide to take no further action, offer a different disposal, or refer the matter for formal prosecution. Refusal does not guarantee you will be charged – the police and CPS still need sufficient evidence and must consider the public interest. In many cases, refusal of a community resolution for a very minor matter results in no further action.