When is a conviction spent? (England & Wales)
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, most convictions and cautions become "spent" after a set time. Once spent, you usually don't have to mention them to employers, insurers or on most forms. The periods below apply from 28 October 2023, to old and new convictions alike, and depend on your age on the date of conviction or caution.
Enter your sentence and dates to get an estimated spent date.
Open the spent convictions checker →Rehabilitation periods at a glance
Prison sentence of more than 4 years
Aged 18 or over: 7 years after the whole sentence ends (including time on licence)
Under 18: 3½ years after the sentence ends
Never spent if the sentence is over 4 years for a serious violent, sexual or terrorism offence.
Prison sentence of more than 1 year, up to 4 years
Aged 18 or over: 4 years after the sentence ends
Under 18: 2 years after the sentence ends
Prison sentence of 12 months or less (including a detention and training order)
Aged 18 or over: 1 year after the sentence ends
Under 18: 6 months after the sentence ends
Suspended sentence
Aged 18 or over: Treated as a prison sentence of the same length: 1 year (or 4 years if the term is over 12 months) after the date the prison term would have ended
Under 18: Not available for under-18s
Life sentence, IPP or extended sentence
Aged 18 or over: Never spent
Under 18: Never spent
Community order or youth rehabilitation order
Aged 18 or over: When the order ends (2 years after conviction if it has no end date)
Under 18: When the order ends
Fine
Aged 18 or over: 1 year after conviction
Under 18: 6 months after conviction
Compensation order
Aged 18 or over: When it is paid in full
Under 18: When it is paid in full
Keep proof of payment from the court.
Conditional discharge
Aged 18 or over: When the discharge period ends
Under 18: When the discharge period ends
Absolute discharge
Aged 18 or over: Immediately
Under 18: Immediately
Referral order
Aged 18 or over: Not applicable
Under 18: When the order ends
Penalty points (from a court or an endorsable fixed penalty)
Aged 18 or over: 5 years after conviction or the fixed penalty
Under 18: 2½ years
Separate from how long points stay on your driving licence.
Driving ban
Aged 18 or over: When the ban ends, or when the endorsement is spent if that is later
Under 18: Same as adults
Restraining order or other order made on conviction
Aged 18 or over: When the order ends
Under 18: When the order ends
Not spent while an order that lasts "until further order" is in force.
Simple caution or youth caution
Aged 18 or over: Immediately
Under 18: Immediately
Conditional caution or youth conditional caution
Aged 18 or over: 3 months after it is given
Under 18: 3 months after it is given
What DBS checks show
A basic DBS check, which anyone can ask for, shows only unspent convictions and unspent conditional cautions.
Standard and enhanced DBS checks are only for certain jobs, such as working with children or vulnerable adults, healthcare and the law. They show unspent convictions and cautions, and also spent ones unless they have been removed ("filtered").
Never filtered: any conviction that led to a prison sentence (including a suspended sentence), and any conviction or caution for a "specified" serious offence on the list set by Parliament.
Otherwise, a spent conviction is filtered 11 years after the date of conviction (5½ years if you were under 18), and an adult caution after 6 years. Youth cautions, reprimands and warnings are not shown automatically.
Each conviction is looked at on its own: the old rule that multiple convictions were always shown ended in November 2020. Enhanced checks can also include information the police reasonably believe is relevant.
If you are convicted again
If you are convicted again before an earlier conviction is spent, neither becomes spent until both periods have ended. A later caution doesn't extend an earlier period, and a conviction that is already spent stays spent.
Common questions
When does a conviction become spent?
A conviction becomes spent when its rehabilitation period under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 ends. For most sentences, that is a set time after the sentence finishes, including any time on licence. The periods were shortened by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 from 28 October 2023, and the new periods apply to older convictions too. Some convictions are never spent, including prison sentences of over four years for serious violent, sexual or terrorist offences. A new conviction during a rehabilitation period can extend it.
How long are the rehabilitation periods for adults?
For people aged 18 or over when convicted, prison sentences of over four years (other than for serious violent, sexual or terrorist offences) become spent seven years after the sentence ends. For one to four years, it is four years after the sentence ends, and for 12 months or less, one year after it ends. Suspended sentences are treated in the same way, based on the length of the prison term. Community orders are spent when the order ends. Fines are spent one year after conviction, conditional discharges when the order ends, and absolute discharges immediately.
How long are the rehabilitation periods for under-18s?
For people under 18 when convicted, the periods are roughly half the adult ones. Custody of over four years (other than for serious violent, sexual or terrorist offences) is spent three and a half years after the sentence ends. One to four years is spent after two years, and 12 months or less after six months. Fines are spent six months after conviction. Referral orders, youth rehabilitation orders and conditional discharges are spent when the order ends. Absolute discharges are spent immediately. Youth cautions are spent immediately, and youth conditional cautions after three months.
Are cautions spent straight away?
A simple caution is spent immediately, for adults and children alike. A conditional caution is spent after three months, or sooner if it stops having effect. Once spent, a caution does not need to be declared for most jobs and does not appear on a basic DBS check. A caution is not a conviction, but it is an admission of guilt and is recorded on the Police National Computer. It can still appear on standard or enhanced DBS checks until it is filtered, as explained below.
Do I have to tell an employer about my criminal record?
For most jobs you only have to disclose unspent convictions and cautions, and only if you are asked. You do not have to reveal spent ones, and it is generally unlawful to refuse you a job because of them. The exceptions are roles covered by the Exceptions Order 1975, such as work with children or vulnerable adults, healthcare, law and some financial jobs. For these, you may be asked about spent convictions that have not been filtered. Insurers can only require disclosure of unspent convictions. Lying when properly asked can be a criminal offence.
What is the difference between basic, standard and enhanced DBS checks?
A basic check, which anyone can request for themselves, shows only unspent convictions and conditional cautions. A standard check, used for roles such as some legal and financial jobs, shows spent and unspent convictions and cautions unless they have been filtered. An enhanced check, used for work with children or vulnerable adults, shows the same plus any other information the police reasonably think is relevant. It can also include a check of the children's or adults' barred lists. Employers can only ask for standard or enhanced checks for eligible roles.
Official sources
Primary sources and official guidance on this topic, for anyone who wants to read the underlying rules directly.
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, section 5 (rehabilitation periods)
- Ministry of Justice: Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975 (28 October 2023)
- Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (Commencement No. 8) Regulations 2023 (s.193 in force 28 October 2023)
- DBS filtering guide (GOV.UK, updated 11 September 2026)
- Unlock: Motoring convictions and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
- Unlock: Suspended prison sentence
General information only. Your record may include things that change the answer, such as further convictions or orders. Charities such as Unlock and a solicitor can help.
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