Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016

General effect of spent conviction

6. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, where a person has a conviction which is, in accordance with this Part, regarded as a spent conviction, he or she shall not be required by—

(a) any rule of law, or

(b) by the provisions of any agreement or arrangement which purport to require the person to disclose the conviction or any circumstances ancillary to the conviction,

to disclose that conviction or the circumstances ancillary thereto.

(2) Where, otherwise than before a court, a question is put to a person purporting to seek information in relation to the person’s previous convictions or the circumstances ancillary thereto and the person has a conviction which is, in accordance with this Part, regarded as a spent conviction, then, subject to the provisions of this Part —

(a) the question shall be regarded as not applying to the spent conviction and the person may respond accordingly, and

(b) the person shall not incur any liability or be otherwise prejudiced in law because he or she did not disclose the spent conviction or the circumstances ancillary to that conviction.