Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 18 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

• s. 3 omitted by 2012 c. 10Sch. 25para. 4
• s. 3 repealed by 2011 asp 1sch. 6
• s. 4(1)(a) (b) restricted by 2020 asp 13s. 32(1)(2)
• s. 4(1)(a) (b) restricted by 2020 asp 13s. 32(3)(4)
• s. 4(2)(a) (b) restricted by 2020 asp 13s. 32(1)(2)
• s. 4(2)(a) (b) restricted by 2020 asp 13s. 32(3)(4)
• s. 4(3)(a) restricted by 2020 asp 13s. 32(1)(2)
• s. 4(3)(a) (b) restricted by 2020 asp 13s. 32(3)(4)
• s. 5(1)(d) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(2)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 18 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(1)(d) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(2)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 18 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(1)(d) words inserted by 2021 c. 11Sch. 13para. 33(a)
• s. 5(1)(d) words inserted by 2021 c. 11Sch. 13para. 34(2)(a)
• s. 5(1)(f) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24para. 33(1)(3) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 18 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(2) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24para. 33(1)(4) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(2F)(a)(ii) words inserted by 2021 c. 11Sch. 13para. 34(2)(b)
• s. 5(3)(b) and word repealed by 2011 asp 1sch. 6
• s. 5(4A) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24para. 33(1)(5) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(4B) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(6)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(4B)(a) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(6)(b)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(4B)(a) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(6)(b)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(4C) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(7)(a) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(4C)(a) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(7)(b)(i) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(4C)(a) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24 para. 33(1)para. 33(7)(b)(ii) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(5)(f) repealed by 2011 asp 1sch. 6
• s. 5(5)(da) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24para. 33(1)(8) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(6A) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24para. 33(1)(9) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(8) words inserted by 2021 c. 11Sch. 13para. 33(b)
• s. 5(9)(b) words inserted by 2020 c. 17Sch. 24para. 33(1)(10) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. 2019 asp 14, s 19 in force at 30/11/2020 by S.S.I. 2020/245, reg. 2, sch.)
• s. 5(10) words repealed by 2011 asp 1sch. 6
• s. 5A words substituted by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(3)
• s. 5B Table B words inserted by 2021 c. 11Sch. 13para. 34(3)
• s. 5B words substituted by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(4)
• s. 5C(2)(b) repealed by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(5)
• s. 5D(1)(b) repealed by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(6)(a)
• s. 5D(3) words repealed by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(6)(b)
• s. 5I(1)(b) repealed by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(7)(a)
• s. 5I(3)(a) word substituted by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(7)(b)(i)
• s. 5I(3)(b) repealed by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(7)(b)(ii)
• s. 8A(2)(d) words substituted by 2022 c. 32Sch. 11para. 2(b)
• s. 8B(2) words substituted by 2011 asp 1s. 187(2)(b)
• Sch. 2 para. 1(1)(a) words substituted by 2022 c. 32Sch. 11para. 3(2)
• Sch. 2 para. 2(1)(f) words substituted by 2022 c. 32Sch. 11para. 3(3)

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

• Act applied by 2017 anaw 2s. 66(10)

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

• s. 5(2AA) inserted by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(2)
• s. 5J(1)(ba) inserted by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(8)(a)
• s. 5J(1A) (1B) inserted by 2020 asp 13sch. 5para. 2(8)(b)
• s. 8A(2)(aa) - (ad) substituted for s. 8A(2)(a) by 2022 c. 32Sch. 11para. 2(a)
• s. 8B(1A) - (1E) inserted by 2011 asp 1s. 187(2)(a)
• Sch. 3 para. 1(1)(aa) (ab) inserted by 2011 asp 1s. 187(3)

1. Introductory Text
2. 1.Protected persons and spent convictions.
3. 2.Rehabilitation of persons dealt with in service disciplinary proceedings.
4. 3.Special provision with respect to certain disposals by children’s hearings under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
5. 4.Effect of becoming a protected person.
6. 5.Rehabilitation periods for particular sentences.
7. 5A.Table A – disclosure periods: ordinary cases
8. 5B.Table B – disclosure periods: service disciplinary sentences
9. 5C.Disclosure period: caution for good behaviour
10. 5D.Disclosure period: particular court orders
11. 5E.Disclosure period: adjournment or deferral
12. 5F.Disclosure period for certain mental health orders
13. 5G.Disclosure period: compulsion orders
14. 5H.Disclosure period: orders relating to juvenile offenders
15. 5I.Disclosure period: service disciplinary orders
16. 5J.Sentences to which no disclosure period applies
17. 6.The disclosure period applicable to a conviction.
18. 7.Limitations on rehabilitation under this Act, etc.
19. 8.Defamation actions.
20. 8A.Protection afforded to spent cautions
21. 8AA.Protection afforded to spent alternatives to prosecution
22. 8B.Protection afforded to spent alternatives to prosecution: Scotland
23. 8C.Modification of section 8B and schedule 3: Scotland
24. 9.Unauthorized disclosure of spent convictions.
25. 9A.Unauthorised disclosure of spent cautions
26. 9B.Unauthorised disclosure of spent alternatives to prosecution: Scotland
27. 10.Orders.
28. 10A.Order-making powers: Scottish Ministers
29. 11.Citation, commencement and extent.
30. 1. Schedule 1Section 6(4): service disciplinary convictions
       1. 1.Any conviction for an offence mentioned in this Schedule is.
       2. Provisions of the Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955
          1. 2.Any offence under any of the provisions of the Army.
          2. 3.Any offence under section 68 (attempt to commit military offence).
          3. 4.Any offence under section 68 (attempt to commit air-force offence).
          1. 5.Any offence under any of the provisions of the Naval.
          2. 6.Any offence under section 40 (attempt to commit naval offence).
          1. 7.Any service offence within the meaning of the Armed Forces.
          1. Preliminary
             1. 1.(1) For the purposes of this Schedule a caution shall.
             2. 2.(1) In this Schedule “ ancillary circumstances ”, in relation.
             1. 3.(1) A person who is given a caution for an.
             2. 4.The Secretary of State may by order—
             3. 5.Nothing in paragraph 3 affects— (a) the operation of the.
             4. 6.(1) Section 7(2), (3) and (4) apply for the purposes.
             1. Preliminary
                1. 1.(1) For the purposes of this Act, an alternative to.
                2. 2.(1) In this Schedule, “ ancillary circumstances ”, in relation.
                1. 3.(1) A person who is given an alternative to prosecution.
                2. 4.(1) This paragraph applies where a person (“A”) is asked.
                3. 5.(1) An obligation imposed on a person (“A”) by a.
                4. 6.The Scottish Ministers may by order— (a) exclude or modify.
                5. 7.Paragraphs 3 to 5 do not affect—
                6. 8.(1) Section 7(2), (3) and (4) apply for the purpose.
                7. 9.(1) The powers conferred on the Scottish Ministers by—