Our criminal record indicator will ask you questions about you and your criminal record. It will then use your answers to estimate whether you will pass our criminality checks.
The result shown by this tool is an estimate, not a guarantee. This is because:
- we do not check the details you enter - if they are not accurate then the result shown by this tool will be wrong
- we take account of the time since your sentence restrictions ended – so the indicator could correctly show that we would refuse your application today, but by the time you apply our decision might be different
- we can treat an offence not listed in this tool as relevant if in our view it affects your suitability to hold a licence - you can find out more about this in our
Get Licensed booklet
- we give special consideration to sexual offences, terrorism offences, and offences against children – this is regardless of how long ago those offences were
If you have sexual or terrorism offences on your record, or offences against children, we may ask you for further information about these offences.
Remember that there are other
checks you will need to pass.
Why we check your criminal record
We check your criminal record so we can decide if you are suitable to hold a licence. We look for things that show you might be a risk to the public, or that you are not suitable to work in the private security industry for another reason, such as dishonest behaviour.
Tips on using this tool
You should enter all of the offences on your record, including any that you think may be ‘spent convictions’ (that is, convictions you do not usually have to tell people about after a certain period). We are legally allowed to look at spent convictions because we have a duty to consider the safety of the public.
If you have a
conviction that relates to the conflict in Northern Ireland you should read our guidance before using this tool.
If you have a criminal offence on your record from an Act that has since been replaced by more recent legislation, you should select the equivalent offence from the new Act. As an example, the Telecommunications Act 1984 includes offences that have since been repealed by the Communications Act 2003.
If you have a criminal offence on your record that was at the time of your conviction an offence under common law but is now a statutory offence (that is, made illegal by an Act of Parliament), we will consider it in the way it is listed here.
Exceptions not covered by this tool
The criminal record indicator cannot provide an estimate if:
- you have charges awaiting trial
- you have received a sentence of life imprisonment
- you have juvenile convictions on your record
- you have ancillary orders on your record
- you have received a hospital order or restriction order
- you have received convictions overseas
This is because we would need to give special consideration to your case.