The Criminal Records Bureau defines Criminal Record as "
a record of convictions held on the Police National Computer for individuals convicted of crimes."
http://www.crb.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=400
Police Cautions are a method of keeping lower level offenders out of court but are also recorded on the police database for future consideration by the court if tried for another offence.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/powers/cau tioning/?version=1
Another method of keeping lower level offenders out of court is the FPN. Acceptance of the penalty discharges any liability to a conviction.
Thus the criminal offence of speeding has many possible consequences including:
Acquittal in Court
Conviction in Court (appearance) - fine, points and record
Conviction in Court (in absence) - fine, points and record
Discretionary Police Caution - record
Discretionary FPN - fine, points, no record
Warning
No Action Taken