No further action (NFA)

Police or the CPS have decided not to charge you or take any other action, although the case can be reopened if new evidence emerges.

No further action (NFA) means the police or the Crown Prosecution Service have decided not to charge you or deal with the matter in any other way, such as a caution. This usually happens when there is not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, or because a prosecution would not be in the public interest. If you were on bail or released under investigation, you should be told in writing. NFA is not a finding of innocence, and an investigation can be reopened if significant new evidence comes to light. It is not a conviction or caution, so it will not appear on a basic or standard DBS check. However, the arrest stays on police systems and could be disclosed on an enhanced check if police consider it relevant. Victims can ask for a decision not to charge to be reviewed under the Victims' Right to Review scheme.

Checked as at 25 September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.