Police and Crime Commissioner welcomes plans to change criminal records disclosure rules

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, has welcomed the UK Government’s plans to change the current rules around criminal records disclosure.

The new legislation will remove the requirement for automatic disclosure of youth cautions, reprimands and warnings. The most serious of offences will continue to be disclosed under the rules.

Jeff Cuthbert said: “It is crucial that children who may have come into contact with the criminal justice system are not unduly punished for the rest of their lives. It is important to remember that many of these children and young people will be among the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“These changes will help ensure that they are not excluded from employment, reducing the risk of them reoffending in later life.

“My office has done a lot of work with our partners including Gwent Police and the Youth Offending Service to reduce the number of children in the criminal justice system by taking a child centered policing approach, and this new legislation will support that work.”