Do you have a criminal record that may show-up on a DBS check?
If you have a criminal record that may show-up on a DBS check (as explained below), you must declare this to the University of Cumbria as soon as possible (once you have accepted your offer).
Please note that you should complete the self-disclosure form in addition to completing your DBS application.
Having a criminal record will not automatically prevent you from pursuing your chosen course, but it does mean that we have to carry out an assessment of your suitability and gather information from you about the offence(s). In very few cases this may mean that you cannot be considered for admission to the University of Cumbria, or you may have to consider an alternative (non-vocational) course. Please be assured that we look at all cases individually and consider them in the context of your circumstances and any contributory factors.
For more information on our DBS clearance procedure, please see our DBS Policy.
To enable us to do this, you need to submit a DBS Self Disclosure Form now, if you have not sent this in already. You do not need to submit this form if you have no criminal record to tell us about.
Should you have any queries or concerns about this please email the DBS Team.
What types of information could a DBS check show?
Depending on your age at the time of the offence, the type of offence, and the amount of time that has elapsed since then, a DBS check could show any of the following:
- Any convictions received at any age, even if over five years ago or under 18.
- Any cautions, warnings or final reprimands that you have received when aged 18 or over.
- Any locally held police information/intelligence about you, if the police consider this relevant to the course concerned.
- Any pending or ongoing investigations or prosecutions.
- Certain types of driving offences*(including drink driving); if the conviction was received when 18 or over. If in any doubt, please declare it. *You do not need to declare speeding or parking fines.
- Please Note: Motoring offences in Scotland: Many motoring offences that took place in Scotland, including speeding fines, are treated differently from those in the rest of the UK for DBS check purposes and frequently appear on DBS certificates. For this reason, we advise you to disclose any such incidents to us to avoid complications once your DBS certificate is issued.
If you are unsure or have any doubt on if something may show on your DBS check, please declare it. (You do not need to declare speeding or parking fines.)
For the exact guidelines on what the check could show, please see the 'What may no longer appear on a DBS check?' section below.
What may no longer appear on a DBS check?
The DBS uses a process called ‘filtering’ to allow for certain old and minor offences not to be shown on a DBS Certificate after a designated period of time. Such offences become 'protected' and you are not required to disclose them.
What is filtered depends on:
- How old you were at the time of the conviction or caution/reprimand/warning.
- The type of offence: whether it was a conviction or a caution/reprimand/warning.
Please see the document below for further guidance:
Find out whether your conviction or caution will be filtered.
Please note that offences will never be filtered if:
- The offence appears on a list of designated offences that are more serious or of a certain nature (e.g. some drugs related offences; most sexual offences; violent offences including Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, whether a caution or a conviction).
- If you received a custodial sentence for the offence, even if you did not actually serve the sentence (suspended sentence).
This means that you must always disclose any offences that fall into one of the above two categories.
For more detailed guidance please refer to the DBS’s Filtering guide. You can also find helpful information on Unlock's Information Hub.