Parent Helper at Beavers with a police caution?

[flump123]

12 yrs ago I got into a bit of trouble because of a small theft from an employer. Realised afterwards that there was no proof, but I was so scared and bullied into confessing by my employer that I admitted it and received a police caution. I am now 29 and would like to help out at my sons beavers group. I have filled in a CRB check which only asked if I had any unspent convictions. To this I said no as a caution isn't actually a conviction, just a warning. I'm sure I was told at the time that the caution would last 3 years. What will come back on the CRB, how much detail will be given and how likely is it that I will be able to help. Thanks.

I don't think it's fair that something happened that so long ago can stop me from doing something with my son and his friends.

Sorry, I don't know if/how much will come up.

However, in your position I would probably ask to speak briefly to the Beaver leader and explain your situation. That way if anything does "come up" you will already have mentioned it.

The bad news: Everything shows up on enhanced CRB forms.

The good news: I doubt that this small offence will prevent you from volunteering. Lots of the forms will have daft things that people did when they were teenagers. You just will have to go through the slight of being a difficult teen. I would not worry about it too much, but you could mention it to the beavers leader if you can bare the embarrassment.

A friend of DH's is a doctor - with a police caution on his record after getting into a pub fight. So I think there's no reason it shouldn't be fine, but it is slightly up to the discretion of the organiser?

Yes, cautions show up on the CRB. Up to the recruiter as to whether they feel that you're still suitable.

I have several volunteers with a similar record, so the record wouldn't concern me. However I do make sure that all volunteers fill out an "application" form where they have the opportunity to disclose everything, and on that basis I would have an issue if someone failed to disclose a caution on their application form. Obviously the CRB form itself doesn't ask for cautions.

The disclosure will give the date of the caution and the type of offence, eg 01/05/98 Police caution, Sheffield (THEFT). It won't give extra detail as to what happened.

I would probably just highlight to the recruiter that this will come up on the CRB. If it is too big a hurdle for them, then they will have saved whatever admin fee they will have been charged for CRBs. If it isn't then your honesty will have been appreciated.