The idea
A young boy has a fight at school with another pupil. The school call the police who decide that one boy is to blame. The boy has two choices: admit his 'guilt' and recieve a police caution, or he can be prosecuted.
The boy choses the caution – and this is recorded on the PNS for life (or 100 years!).
There is now a growing army of companies, NGOs and other organisations that are allowd access to the PNC.
The boy suddenly finds that he cannot get a job – not least with children or other professional bodies because (in a competitive market) why take someone with a police record?
The boy's life is ruined.
This is not rihgt. We should have the following legislation in the UK:
a. Only court convictions should be on the PNC.
b. All minor convictions should be removed form the PNC after the punishment has been served.
1.
Why is it important?
If you do something wrong you should be tried by your peers, convicted in a court, and then punished. After you have served your time the slate is 'wiped clean' and you re enter society.
This used to be the principle, and it was a good one – one of our 'humna rights'. This was the case even if your convictioon was serious – fraud, rape, or manslaughter (any offence other than a life sentence).
However, under current legislation the use and retention of computer records means you can be marked for life for nothing – and a growing number of bodoies can see this. Although the PNC clearly shows it is a 'caution' not a criminal conviction, the subtle differenc eis lost on those that access the information.
We have lost the balance of right to privacy. The boy in my story will now know that he is 'identified' on the Police records 'til the day he dies.