Search Legislation

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Changes to legislation:

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

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.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

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

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

  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.

    1. Schedule 1

      Section 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)...

      3. Provisions of the Naval Discipline Act 1957

        1. 5.Any offence under any of the provisions of the Naval...

        2. 6.Any offence under section 40 (attempt to commit naval offence)...

      4. Provisions of the Armed Forces Act 2006

        1. 7.Any service offence within the meaning of the Armed Forces...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Protection for spent cautions

      1. Preliminary

        1. 1.(1) For the purposes of this Schedule a caution shall...

        2. 2.(1) In this Schedule “ ancillary circumstances ”, in relation...

      2. Protection relating to spent cautions and ancillary circumstances

        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...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      PROTECTION FOR SPENT ALTERNATIVES TO PROSECUTION: SCOTLAND

      1. Preliminary

        1. 1.(1) For the purposes of this Act, an alternative to...

        2. 2.(1) In this Schedule, “ ancillary circumstances ”, in relation...

      2. Protection for spent alternatives to prosecution and ancillary circumstances

        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—

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources