Police Record and PNC Solicitor

Police Record and PNC Solicitor

If you have been investigated by the police, you may wish to consider police record or PNC deletion. It may come as a shock to realise that the details of your arrest and any police investigation are kept on the Police National Computer (PNC), even after charges are dropped or a not guilty verdict is returned. It can be devastating to have a black mark against your name in these circumstances, especially when you have done nothing wrong.

Reeds Solicitors are specialists in this area and can apply on your behalf to have the records permanently removed from PNC. We can offer virtual meetings, so we are able to assist you wherever you are in the country.

Contact us if you would like to discuss how we can help you with your criminal record or PNC Deletion, we would be happy to hear from you. You can contact us through our contact page here. Alternatively you can phone 0333 240 7373, or email us at PNCDeletion@reeds.co.uk.

Many people feel that it is a matter of principle to have all criminal records removed from the PNC after the police have dropped the charges or after being found not guilty at trial. For others, it is crucial to have the record removed for different reasons, such as to protect their careers.

 

How Can Reeds Solicitors Help Me With PNC Deletion?

We are vastly experienced in this area, having assisted countless people over the years to make these applications. It is essential to outline the representations in a clear, concise and persuasive way in order to maximise your chances of success. We would also carefully consider what supporting evidence could be obtained.

We provide the following services under a fixed fee:

  • A conference (in person or virtual) where we obtain your detailed instructions and offer honest advice about the process and your chances of success
  • Draft concise and persuasive representations, maximising your chances of success
  • Consideration of supporting documents and assistance in obtaining them where necessary
  • Completing and lodging the ACRO Application

 

Reeds Solicitors is an award winning and leading top-tier criminal defence firm. For legal advice and representation, please contact a PNC Solicitor through our contact page here. Alternatively you can phone 0333 240 7373, or email the PNC Deletion team at PNCDeletion@reeds.co.uk.

 

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FAQ

Employment in regulated fields

If you are working in a profession where an enhanced DBS certificate is required, there is a risk that the facts of your arrest or prosecution can be disclosed in the ‘other relevant information’ section. This could be a major disadvantage when applying for new roles.

Visa applications and police certificates

In many visa applications, you are required to disclose whether you have ever been arrested and if so, to specify the details. In some applications, typically involving longer periods of residency, you are required to supply a police certificate, confirming your criminal record. The application form asks whether you have ever been arrested or interviewed under caution.

If your PNC holds no criminal records, the police certificate will return a result of No Trace. If the PNC holds records of arrest or indeed legal proceedings, the certificate will return a result of No Live Trace. This indicates that there are criminal records on the PNC, which were not specified on the certificate. Unfortunately, some countries, such as the USA, will then require you to fully disclose the details of the criminal matter being alluded to on the certificate.

The Record Deletion Application Form must be completed and submitted to ACPO Criminal Records Office (aka ACRO) by email. The details of the alleged offence must be outlined, and it is crucial to select the proper grounds upon which the application is made. This is not a straightforward process, especially as the police are sometimes reluctant to remove data from the PNC. This is because arrest records can be useful intelligence in the event that further alleged offences are committed.

Possible grounds for an application:

  • Mistaken identity
  • The police later conclude that no crime was in fact committed.
  • Malicious or false allegations, where the police are satisfied that there is independent evidence to support the assertion.
  • Proven alibi, where there is evidence to support the assertion.
  • Where the police initially treat an individual as a suspect but then believed the person to be a victim or witness
  • Comments made by a Judge or Magistrate upon an acquittal.
  • Another person is convicted of the offence in question.
  • Where an arrest is subsequently deemed unlawful.

This depends on whether the officer in charge of the investigation has formally closed it within the police logs, marking it for ‘No Further Action’. If this has been completed, the application can be made straightaway. However, if the police logs show that the investigation appears to be ongoing, even if you have been told otherwise, the application will not be forwarded to the relevant police force until six months have elapsed from the arrest date.

Most police forces are committed to responding to applications within two months. In our experience, the majority of police forces meet this timeframe, although during busy periods it can take several weeks longer.