David Wacks on youth convictions and cautions, John Hughes on the need to delete records of minor offences from decades ago, and a magistrate on the need for DBS reform
Re your article (Thousands in England and Wales locked out of jobs because of mistakes in youth, campaigners say, 21 June), it is correct that cautions given to those under 18 no longer automatically appear on enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates, but the police can seek disclosure. It is possible to object to such disclosure, but those affected should be aware that even if a caution is spent for the purposes of job applications in the UK, it still prejudices the recipient for life in getting any visa to travel abroad unless they can successfully apply for the caution to be deleted.
Convictions given to those under 18 can be disclosed even if spent, but many never are. For example, a person might be convicted of arson for throwing a cigarette in a bin, rather than it being recorded that they were caught smoking outside their school. Had the conviction been for criminal damage, or had it been a caution, they would not have a lifetime punishment.
