Disputes
What is a dispute?
A dispute involves the information disclosed on the certificate.
There are three types of dispute:
Identity – “This whole record is incorrect. This is not me”
When you think the disclosure information does not relate to you.
Accuracy – “Yes, that’s me, but some of the details are wrong”
When you think the information disclosed is inaccurate or that some of your personal information printed on the Disclosure is incorrect.
Other Relevant Information – “Why is this on my Disclosure”
When you think the “Other Relevant Information” or “Other Government Information” disclosed is not relevant and that it is non-conviction information which, you believe, should not be disclosed and/or perhaps is incorrect.
Disputes must be raised with Disclosure Scotland within 3 months of the date of the issue of the Disclosure.
Disclosure Scotland is committed to providing a high standard of customer service and has in place a process to deal with resolving disputes. All procedures take account of the Data Protection Acts, Human Rights Act and the principles of Part V of the Police Act 1997.
If you wish to raise a dispute, the following steps should be taken:
- If you wish to discuss your concerns prior to raising your dispute in the first instance you can contact our Exceptions Handling Unit Supervisor on 0141 585 8359.
- To raise a dispute formally you or the Solicitor acting on your behalf should contact Disclosure Scotland in writing by email or letter quoting: applicant’s full name, date of birth, address and the Disclosure reference number (as shown on the Disclosure) as well as full details of the dispute
By Post to
EHU Team Leader
Exceptions Handling Unit
Disclosure Scotland
1 Pacific Quay
Glasgow
G51 1DZ
By Email to
- If the Disclosure is Standard or Enhanced level you should notify the person who asked you to apply for the Disclosure about the error, as they will also have received a copy. Disclosure Scotland will also notify the person who countersigned your application in writing advising them of your dispute.
Please be assured that we shall endeavour to rectify all disputes within 21 working days, however depending on the circumstances surrounding the dispute, for example, the age of the conviction, the elimination fingerprints process, any investigation that is carried out by the relevant police force concerned, will perhaps delay the dispute and therefore will not be administered within this period.
What happens next?
Disclosure Scotland will contact the applicant if necessary to confirm the facts and receive further details of the dispute. Where the dispute can be rectified quickly, we will take the necessary action to correct it. If the dispute can be attributed to an error by Disclosure Scotland, we will correct it and issue a replacement certificate to the applicant and/or counter signatory along with letters of apology.
In an extremely small number of cases, applicants may have similar, if not identical personal details to someone who has a criminal record. In these cases, it may only be possible to disassociate you from the criminal record by way of fingerprinting. In this instance we will write to you asking that you complete an elimination fingerprint confirmation form and a consent form and provide two passport-sized photographs, signed on the reverse. Once these have been received, Disclosure Scotland will forward the relevant documents to the local police force, who will contact you and arrange a convenient time for you to have your elimination fingerprints taken.
Where Other Relevant Information has been printed on the certificate and you question the relevance of the information being disclosed this will be referred to the appropriate Police Force. Other Government information will be referred to the list holder.
