Should i declare criminal charges? Even though they were dropped?

[needhelpunsure]

ok... so long story short I'm 27 years old and British. I booked flights to visit two friends for 10days who emigrated out to Canada last year. I've just been informed that I have to now apply for an ETA as I'm travelling in June. Filling it out now but it's asking me if I have had any criminal offences were I was charged or convicted. I have had charges against me in the past but the prosecution dropped them. Should they be declared? The police told me afterwards that they won't show up in searches for employment etc as I don't have a criminal record. But do they have different searches they use that basically show every bit if detail?

 

[links18]

What exactly does the question say? Does it asked if you have been convicted of a crime or charged with a crime? Its up to you whether or not you want to risk being untruthful and found out. They might forgive a dropped charge (especially if you weren't guilty), but they probably wont look on deception very highly. Have you ever tried to have the charges "expunged"? I don't know anything about UK procedures on this or whether CBSA has access to UK police records (probably not--but you never know).