The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) exists to help companies across the UK make safer recruitment decisions. This is done through a DBS check, formerly known as a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.
An individual may need to complete a DBS check at the request of an employer, depending on the role they are applying for. This is growing increasingly common in the UK for the majority of roles, and is a requirement by many governing bodies such as Ofsted for teachers.
These criminal record checks disclose information that helps employers determine whether an applicant is suitable for a role. A DBS check application will disclose information which a prospective employer may need to consider before they make a hire. This includes specific police cautions, some of which will be filtered if not relevant.
This short guide outlines which cautions appear on a DBS application, how the DBS filtering process works and how long a caution lasts.
What does a DBS Check Show?
The three types of DBS check are as follows:
The level of information disclosed depends on which DBS check is required for the role. Basic disclosure reveals only unspent convictions or cautions, while a Standard and Enhanced DBS check application will show details of spent and unspent convictions, reprimands, warnings and cautions.
The only other exceptions are:
- An Enhanced DBS will reveal any other information held by a local police force that’s considered relevant to the application.
- If a barred list check is required with the Enhanced DBS application, it will disclose whether an applicant is on either the children’s or adults’ barred lists.
Understanding Cautions on a DBS Check
When employers ask, "does a caution show on DBS?" the answer depends on the type of check being conducted and how recent or serious the caution is. A caution on DBS records can influence hiring decisions, especially when a role involves working with vulnerable individuals or handling sensitive data. That’s why understanding what does a DBS check show is essential before starting the application process.
DBS Filtering Rules
The UK government introduced the DBS filtering system in 2013 which meant that certain cautions and convictions would not show on a DBS check.
DBS filtering identifies and removes certain offences from the check, but that doesn’t mean it will be removed from police databases. Simply put, when an applicant has applied for a DBS check, some caution or conviction information simply won’t show up.
Employers aren’t allowed to take minor offences into account, or ones which happened a long time ago, when making decisions about a prospective applicant.
Which Cautions and Convictions are Filtered from a DBS Check?
Single cautions or convictions which didn’t result in a custodial or suspended sentence are eligible for filtering. The particular offence must be eligible and a certain period of time must have elapsed.
Some offences which are eligible for filtering include:
- Theft without violence
- Drug offences (which only involve possession)
- Drunk and disorderly
- Several driving offences
- Common assault
Safeguarding offences, drug offences (which involve supplying) as well as violent or sexual offences are not eligible for filtering. Therefore, cautions for these offences will show up on a DBS check.
For a full list of offences, please refer to the DBS’ official website here.
Automatic DBS Check Disclosure Changes
Multiple convictions can be filtered on a DBS certificate, as long as the offences were eligible and the relevant time has passed. But the only eligible cautions were offences which didn’t result in a suspended or custodial sentence.
This ostensibly meant that if you had multiple convictions, all of them would appear on a DBS check.
The government announced new changes to the DBS check disclosure regime on the 28th November 2020 whereby multiple convictions would no longer be automatically disclosed on Standard and Enhanced DBS checks. They also announced that youth cautions, warnings or reprimands would be removed from automatic DBS disclosure.
For more information on this ruling, please contact Online DBS Checks directly.
FAQS
Do Cautions Show on Enhanced DBS Checks?
A common question from both applicants and employers is: do cautions show on enhanced DBS checks? The Enhanced DBS check is the most comprehensive level of vetting available and includes details beyond spent and unspent convictions. If a caution is considered relevant and recent, especially in relation to the role in question, it will be disclosed on an Enhanced certificate. This makes an enhanced DBS check caution an important aspect of safeguarding.
If you're wondering, do cautions show on DBS checks of other types, the answer varies. For instance, a Basic DBS check will only reveal unspent cautions, and a Standard check includes both spent and unspent cautions unless they are filtered. Employers must assess these details fairly to ensure a compliant and informed decision.
What Shows Up on a DBS Check?
Many individuals are unsure about what shows up on a DBS check or how to interpret the certificate. Besides convictions, a DBS may also include cautions, reprimands, warnings, and in some cases, non-conviction information held by local police. Knowing what a DBS check shows is key to making fair and informed decisions about a candidate’s suitability.
Filtering vs. Disclosure: What's the Difference?
Although the DBS filtering system removes eligible minor offences from certificates, not all cautions are excluded. If you're asking, does a caution show on DBS even if it happened years ago, the answer is—it depends. If the caution is for an offence deemed too serious for filtering, such as violence or safeguarding issues, it will appear on both Standard and Enhanced checks. Therefore, employers must understand the filtering criteria and when they apply.
An enhanced DBS check caution might also include police intelligence, which isn't a conviction or caution but is deemed relevant to the role. This could include past allegations or investigations, even if they didn’t result in charges. Employers need to assess this information with care, balancing safeguarding with fair treatment.
Why It Matters for Employers and Applicants:
Understanding whether cautions show on enhanced DBS checks or if cautions show on DBS reports of other types isn't just about compliance—it’s about managing risk and making ethical hiring decisions. A caution on DBS might not disqualify someone, but failing to assess it properly could compromise workplace safety.
In summary, when applying for a role that requires disclosure, it’s vital to understand what shows up on a DBS check and what each level of check entails. By being aware of how filtering works and when a caution shows on DBS, both employers and applicants can ensure the process is transparent and fair.
