Police Act 1997

[F1 112 Criminal conviction certificates. U.K.

(1) [F2 The Secretary of State] [F2 DBS] shall issue a criminal conviction certificate to any individual who—

(a) makes an application F3 ...,

[F4 (aa) is aged 16 or over at the time of making the application,] and

(b) pays any fee that is payable in relation to the application under regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2) A criminal conviction certificate is a certificate which—

(a) gives the prescribed details of every conviction [F5 or conditional caution] of the applicant which is recorded in central records, or

(b) states that there [F6 is no such conviction] [F6 are no such convictions and conditional cautions].

(3) In this section—

• “central records” means such records of convictions [F7 and conditional cautions] held for the use of police forces generally as may be prescribed;

• [F8 “conditional caution” means a caution given under section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) or section 66A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, other than one that is spent for the purposes of Schedule 2 to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.]

• “conviction” means a conviction within the meaning of the M1 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, other than a spent conviction.

(4) Where an applicant has received a criminal conviction certificate, [F9 the Secretary of State] [F9 DBS] may refuse to issue another certificate to that applicant during such period as may be prescribed.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 5 repealed (S.) (1.4.2025) by Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 13), s. 97, sch. 5 para. 3 (with s. 96); S.S.I. 2025/27, reg. 3(1)(2), sch. (with regs. 4, 5, 7-10)

F2 Words in s. 112(1) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(a) (with Pt. 4)

F3 Words in s. 112(1)(a) repealed (S.) (11.1.2008) by Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 14), ss. 79(1), 101(2) (with ss. 90, 99); S.S.I. 2007/564, art. 2, sch.; and words repealed (E.W.N.I.) (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 97(2), 116(1), Sch. 8 Pt. 8; S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(n)(u)

F4 S. 112(1)(aa) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after S.I. 2012/2157 comes into force) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 80(1), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(s) (with art. 5)

F5 Words in s. 112(2)(a) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after S.I. 2012/2157 comes into force) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 84(a), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(v)

F6 Words in s. 112(2)(b) substituted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after S.I. 2012/2157 comes into force) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 84(b), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(v)

F7 Words in s. 112 inserted (E.W.) (19.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 50(2)(a), 153(7); S.I. 2008/3260, art. 2(1)(b)

F8 Words in s. 112 inserted (E.W.) (19.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 50(2)(b), 153(7); S.I. 2008/3260, art. 2(1)(b)

F9 Words in s. 112(4) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(a) (with Pt. 4)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 112 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 135(1)

I2 S. 112 in force at 1.4.2008 for N.I. by S.I. 2008/692, art. 2(a)

I3 S. 112 in force at 10.3.2014 for E.W. by S.I. 2014/237, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1974 c. 53.