Does the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act cover cautions?
Yes. The law was changed on 19 December 2008. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act now covers simple cautions, reprimands and warnings (which become spent immediately) and conditional cautions (which become spent after 3 months). The change covers all simple cautions, reprimands, warnings and conditional cautions including those administered before 19 December 2008. Fixed Penalty Notices and Penalty Notices for Disorder do not form part of a person’s criminal record as there is no admission of guilt and therefore they do not need to be covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
