Closed petition Automatically expunge false allegations and arrest records of innocent people

Closed on 23 March 2021

I would like the Government to ensure that a person’s criminal record is expunged of any allegations that are later found to be false, and any subsequent arrest where no charges are filed, as currently people’s names can be dragged through the dirt.

False allegations can have a long-lasting effect on the accused if they are totally innocent in the first place even if they had a no further action after arrest as it still says on the police database and can be disclosed on DBS and Background checks. This is permanent. Currently someone falsely accused of a crime can apply to the National Records Deletion Unit to have their Police National Computer (PNC) records deleted, but there is no guarantee they will be successful. All PNC and Police National Database (PND) records should be automatically expunged for victims of false allegations or arrest where no charges are filed.