What is a disclosure?
A Disclosure is a document containing impartial and confidential criminal history information held by the police and government departments which can be used by employers to make safer recruitment decisions.
Disclosure information could include:
- Details of criminal records
- Information about a persons inclusion on children's or adults' lists
- Other relevant information held by a local police force or Government Body
- Or state that there is no information
The information included on the document will depend on the type of disclosure applied for.
See our Glossary for definitions of terms used
Types of disclosure
- Basic Disclosure contains only convictions considered unspent under The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- Standard Disclosure contains all conviction information, spent and unspent, including cautions.
- Enhanced Disclosure contains all conviction information, spent and unspent, and any other non conviction information considered to be relevant by the police or other Government bodies.
- Please Note: Disclosure Scotland will continue to process applications for the small number of enhanced disclosures that remain under the Police Act for purposes other than Regulated Work with Children or Protected Adults. Regulated work is the term used by the PVG Act to define the types of work which barred individuals must not do, and for which PVG Scheme membership is available. Click here to access more information about the PVG Scheme.
Information Included
The information included in the disclosure will depend on the type of disclosure applied for.
Information included |
Type of disclosure |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Basic |
Standard |
Enhanced |
|
Unspent convictions |
|
|
|
Spent convictions |
|
|
|
Cautions |
|
|
|
Inclusion on children's' lists (where relevant to post applied for) |
|
|
|
| Inclusion on adults' lists (where relevant to post applied for) |  |
|
 |
Other relevant information held by police forces |
|
|
|
| Inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register | |
|
|
Who can apply for disclosure?
Anyone can apply for a basic disclosure in their own name. This might be requested for a new job, volunteer work or to support a visa application.
For most other types of regulated work with children or protected adults, the PVG Scheme is now the most appropriate type of check. Regulated work is the term used by the PVG Act to define the types of work which barred individuals must not do, and for which PVG Scheme membership is available. Click here to access more information about the PVG Scheme.
Some employers and organisations can also apply for a standard (or enhanced disclosure for specific posts) for a potential new employee or a volunteer position. There is legislation available to employers and other organisations to determine what type of disclosure is required for a particular position (details available on our Publications page).
Apply for a disclosure
Apply for a basic disclosure in your own name
Apply for a disclosure for a potential new employee or volunteer
