How do employers check criminal record?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 22, 2026
There are three main types of criminal record check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for employment purposes – basic, standard and enhanced. However, if you are working overseas or require government security vetting, other types of checks will be done.
What shows up on a criminal background check?
Criminal background checks will reveal felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions, any pending criminal cases, and any history of incarceration as an adult. Arrests pending prosecution may also be reported.
Do I have to tell an employer about my criminal record?
A job applicant or employee is not legally required to disclose a spent conviction, unless their job role is excepted from the protection under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A spent conviction is where any rehabilitation period has passed.
Can I be refused a job because of a criminal record?
Being refused a job
There is no legal concept of 'discrimination on the basis of having a criminal record', as there is for discrimination on the grounds of age or disability. Your treatment, therefore, will only create a legal claim if it would do so for someone without a criminal record.
How far back does a DBS check go?
How Far Back Does a Standard DBS Check Go? Standard DBS checks can go as far back as possible, as there is no limit. This is because they show everything a basic does, as well as both spent and unspent convictions.
25 related questions foundWhat will fail a DBS check?
The number one way to fail a background check is if details of past convictions appear on a DBS certificate. Any criminal behaviour can show up on a DBS check, depending on the level of the check carried out – basic, standard, or enhanced.
How long do convictions stay on your DBS?
If over 18 at the time of the offence, a conviction will be filtered 11 years after the date of the conviction, and a caution 6 years after the date of the caution, provided that the applicant did not go to prison, has not committed any other offence and the offence was not of a violent or sexual nature.
Can I work for the police with a criminal record?
Criminal convictions and cautions
All convictions, cautions (including any received as a juvenile), involvement in any criminal investigation and bind-overs imposed by a court must be declared. They don't automatically mean you'll be rejected from joining the police service.
Can employer ask for spent convictions?
Yes, but the question you should ask will depend on the job that you are recruiting for. All employers are entitled to ask applicants to disclose details of any convictions which are not yet spent (i.e. unspent) under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended).
Can your employer sack you for getting a criminal record?
If your conviction were to be discovered, then this, on its own, would not be a reason for your employers to dismiss you. However, some employers may feel justified in dismissing you on the basis that they can no longer trust you based on your keeping your conviction from them.
How long does a crime stay on your record?
How long does a conviction stay on your record? A conviction will remain on your record until you reach the age of 100. However, depending on the nature of the conviction, it can be filtered out of background checks after 11 years.
What causes a red flag on a background check?
Common background report red flags include application discrepancies, derogatory marks and criminal records.
Will background check show all my jobs?
The simple answer is no. A background check cannot return a list or database of the jobs that a professional has held over the years. Most pre-employment background check services are geared toward uncovering public record information, such as criminal record information, driving records, and credit history.
What do employers look for in a background check?
Background Check of Employment History
This background check includes the position, your performance during the job, your salary, longevity, etc. These can be done by reference checks, the first can be a simple employment verification and this is done by a phone call to the HR of your previous company.
What can make you fail police vetting?
There are some convictions that will lead to automatic failure of vetting. These include but are not limited to murder, firearms offences, domestic violence offences, any dishonesty related offence, for example fraud, and offences with a hate aggravation such as race.
What is the seven year rule?
The Seven Year Rule
Under federal law, the consumer reporting agencies cannot report an arrest that is over seven years old. However, they may report a conviction no matter how old it is.
Does a misdemeanor show up on a background check after 7 years?
A misdemeanor stays on your record for life unless you successfully petition for expungement. There is no preset “expiration date” for misdemeanor crimes. Even though misdemeanor offenses are less serious than felonies, they are still serious breaches in the eyes of the law.
Do criminal records get wiped UK?
In the UK, the Police National Computer (PNC) stores all recordable offences. It remains there until the person becomes 100 years old. However, there is no formal way for a person to request deletion of court convictions. For some exceptional cases, you can clear caution and convictions on a criminal record.
What jobs can't you do with a criminal record UK?
However, some jobs are exempt from this rule, including:
- Jobs that involve working with children or vulnerable adults.
- Senior roles in banking or finance.
- Law enforcement roles, including the police and judiciary.
- The military, navy and air force.
- Work involving national security.
Does criminal record show on DBS?
DBS checks will also pick up criminal convictions and criminal records. However, multiple cautions can be filtered from all reports if the offences are eligible and the relevant filtering period has elapsed for each caution.
Will I pass a CRB check with a criminal record?
Some cautions and spent convictions can become 'protected'. Once protected, they are 'filtered', meaning they won't be disclosed on standard or enhanced DBS checks. Filtered cautions and convictions do not appear on a standard or enhanced DBS check. However, they are not 'removed' or 'wiped' from police records.
How long do arrests stay on your record UK?
If the person was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense (i.e. legally considered to be an adult), then the conviction will be expunged from their record 11 years after the conviction date (not the offense date).
Should I worry about background check?
Should I be worried about a background check? A background check is a prerequisite of the hiring process and cannot be avoided. As long as you are honest on your resume and understand your rights, you will not have anything to worry about. Be sure to review the background check laws in your state before applying.
Do background checks contact current employers?
Hireright Current Employer Verification service verifies a candidate's current job while protecting their privacy. Since many candidates are employed when they begin seeking a new position, a common request is that their current employer not be contacted.
How long does it take for a job to do a background check?
Depending on nature and scope of the background check your potential employer has requested, an average employment background check will typically take between two and four business days to complete.