Police Certificate application (ACRO) why ask me for arrest history?

[David2736]

Hi all

I appreciate your help in advance here.

I am asking for a police certificate and one question is:

Have you ever been Arrested, Cautioned, Warned or Reprimanded or been Convicted of a criminal offence in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland?

I found this to be quite ridiculous because surely the police should have this information and that is exactly what I am asking for from them? Why am I informing them?!

I have prepared the information best to my knowledge but in all honesty I am unsure on whether I should put it down.

On one hand: The worst of my police history might well have stayed local and therefore not on any 'central' db so informing ACRO might alert them to update this central db and therefore dig me a deeper hole.

On the other hand: The form has a decleration section saying that I swear the entire application is true to my knowledge or I face criminal proceedings if I omit anything.

I don't know what to do!!

I wrote this but unsure whether to include it. If I do, is this format OK? HELP!!! (please)

ARRESTS/CAUTIONS/WARNINGS/REPRIMANDS KNOWN:
I CANNOT BE SURE OF THESE DETAILS AS MY MEMORY IS POOR AND THEY
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

ARREST/CAUTION - APPROX 6 YEARS AGO - BURGLARY WITH INTENT TO CAUSE
CRIMINAL DAMAGE., AND CRIMINAL DAMAGE.

THIS WAS DROPPED TO A CAUTION BECAUSE A) THE HOMEOWNER INFORMED
POLICE THAT I LIVED THERE AT THE TIME AND CLIMBED THROUGH THE
BEDROOM WINDOW AS I HAD FORGOTTEN A KEY, AND B) THE CRIMINAL
DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO BE WITHOUT INTENT TO AN INTERNAL DOOR DURING
A DISAGREEMENT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND LIVING THERE WITH ME.

CAUTION/FIXED PENALTY CHARGE - APPROX 4 YEARS AGO - PUBLIC ORDER
OFFENCE UNDER INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

I WAS HANDED A FIXED PENALTY NOTICE 'ON THE SPOT FINE', PAID IN FULL
AND THE MATTER CONSIDERED SETTLED FORTHWITH.



ANY OTHER OFFENCES THAT MAY OCCUR ON UK POLICE DATABASES WOULD
HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN ABOUT AND SO, OMITTED. BEST TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING MORE AND CERTAINLY NOTHING OUTSTANDING
(UNSPENT CONVICTION FOR EXAMPLE)

 

[user828]

You seriously not gonna write

I CANNOT BE SURE OF THESE DETAILS AS MY MEMORY IS POOR AND THEY
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

 

[parker24]

You may not understand it but you still need to be honest and answer it completely.

 

[fuad1980]

Hi David,

In England, I guess the police records are computerized and they might be able to dig out your past if they think it is necessary. My recommendation will be to put the true information in the form and I don't think your police clearance report will have negative results based on the justification you provided. You can also add this justification in a separate letter and attach it with the application. I am sure they will understand your case and will give a positive report.

Wish you best of luck.

Regards,
Fuad

 

[David2736]

Thank you guys for your input.

I will call their customer support line in the morning and come back to you all with what they say and ask any mods or key people on this forum to update any FAQs or key info threads (pinned).

I'm not going to state about being under the influence. I have already changed it to say 'It was a long time ago and my memory is not good'.

I will ask them in the morning, like I said, and see what they advise I do to handle that question.

Thanks again.

 

[rebecassss]

You seriously not gonna write

I CANNOT BE SURE OF THESE DETAILS AS MY MEMORY IS POOR AND THEY
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

I nearly did I had the exact same problem. Then they emailed me asking if I was SURE I had never been arrested and I didn't sleep for a week trying to remember if anything had happened during the drunken haze of my youth.

 

[David2736]

I nearly did I had the exact same problem. Then they emailed me asking if I was SURE I had never been arrested and I didn't sleep for a week trying to remember if anything had happened during the drunken haze of my youth.

Haha!

So...did you detail anything and how did you word it roughly compared to what actually came on the certificate? If you want to keep it super-confidential then PM it? I would be very grateful as I am getting a little anxious and would appreciate the input.

 

[rebecassss]

I just said that I was absolutely sure that nothing had happened - and I was right. I think that even if you were in a horrible state being arrested is something you'd remember.