Serious Offences7

1

A person has a conviction of a “serious offence” if—

a

that person has been convicted of any offence under the law of any part of the United Kingdom or under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom; and

b

on such conviction there was imposed on that person for that offence a punishment falling within paragraph (2).

2

The punishments are—

a

a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding three months;

b

a fine exceeding level 4 on the standard scale;

c

a community service order or community payback order requiring a person to perform work for more than 60 hours; and

d

in the case of an offence committed under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, any punishment corresponding to those mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c).

3

In paragraph (2) —

a

the reference to a sentence of imprisonment includes a reference to any form of custodial sentence or order, other than one imposed under the enactments relating to mental health;

b

“community service order” means an order under Article 13 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 19965; and

c

“community payback order” means an order under section 227A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 19956.