Conditional discharge
Yes, it is a criminal record. A Conditional Discharge is sentence which can be passed when someone is convicted of a fairly minor criminal offence. There are no other penalties, but this is – as the name suggests – conditional on not committing any further offences within the period specified (in this case 6 months, can be a year or two). If you do commit another offence within this period, you will be convicted not only of the new offence, but of the additional matter of Breach of a Conditional Discharge. It will show up on a Police National Computer check for the rest of your life, but only police, courts and probation have access to this. The Criminal Records Bureau will also hold this information, which can be accessed by employers. The conviction will become “spent” after 2 1/2 years if you were under 18 at the time of sentencing, or 5 years if you were over 18 when convicted. This means that until then you will have to disclose your conviction to an employer if they ask, but afte
