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Armed Forces

Answer

The National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000 provide for the recording in national police records of convictions. It is current police policy to retain all information relating to cautions and convictions on the police national computer until the subject reaches 100 years of age, for police operational reasons and in the interest of the prevention and detection of crime.

Rehabilitation periods for sentences, including for sentences specific to the service justice system (eg detention or dismissal) are set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, A finding at Summary Hearing within the armed forces that a charge has been proved is treated as a conviction, and any sentence imposed by the commanding officer is treated as a sentence, for the purposes of the 1974 Act.

There is no separate guidance on convictions for service offences, as they are treated in the same way as ‘civilian’ offences. The same rehabilitation periods apply to sentences which are imposed in the service justice system as are imposed by the civilian justice system. In addition, there are specific rehabilitation periods for sentences of dismissal and service detention. However, some advice for service personnel has been included in revised guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 which will be published shortly.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

188105; 576 c244W

Session

2013-14

Subjects

Criminal records Armed forces Vetting

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk