(Julius And George)A criminal record is held on a police database and contains details of any crimes you have been found guilty of or have admitted doing, and of any sentences you have been given.
If you admit to having committed a crime, the police may give you a warning or reprimand.These are not convictions and do not have have to be declared, but are recorded on the police database.
You may be asked to declare whether or not you have a criminal record, when you apply for a job or to rent a flat. But after a certain time,your conviction becomes spent and you no longer have to declare it.
For example, if you are under 18 and you receive a court fine or community sentence, it becomes spent after two and a half years.If you receive a custodial sentence of six a half years.Prison sentences of between six months and 30 months are spent after five years, but any longer prison sentences are never spent.