How Long Before Conviction Becomes Spent

[Mike25]

Arrested for drunk and disorderly, went to court and fined. How long until conviction is spent? Over 18 years old.

[SeaJayPea]

Looks like five years according to this, unless you're applying for particular jobs.

http://www.nacro.org.uk/data/files/nacro-2007021302-65.pdf

[Buenchico]

SeaJayPea has basically answered your question. I'll just point out that, as well as those areas of employment for which convictions never become spent (such as working with, or alongside, children or vulnerable adults), convictions also don't become spent when foreign laws apply (unless the relevant country has their own laws about such matters). For example, the USA doesn't recognise the UK's Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, so convictions are never regarded as spent when seeking to travel to the USA.

[Buenchico]

Just a further point:
Convictions can't become spent if the offender has other unspent convictions. So, if the person in your question (you?) was to be fined again 4 years after the first conviction, neither conviction would then be spent until 5 years after the second one.

[Peter Pedant]

and jobs in the NHS - a large employer, a milliion employees they say

but in that case discuss it at the interview and 'explain'

PP

[Mike25]

No Peter, I don't think I will discuss it at the Interview but thanks!

[Peter Pedant]

Ah, they ask.... and the CRB will show it up
so if you say no when the answer is yes....
hence advice to discuss