Wrongly Issued Shoplifting PND Deleted for Medical Professional
The Situation:
What Our Client Was Facing
Our client, a medical doctor, was shopping the day before travelling abroad. Distracted by a phone call and under significant personal stress, he accidentally left a shop without paying for an item. He was detained by security staff and accused of shoplifting.
When the police arrived, he was offered a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND). Fearful of prosecution and unaware of the consequences, he accepted the PND on the spot.
At the time, PNDs were often presented as informal tickets. In reality, they were recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC) and could be disclosed on enhanced DBS certificates. For a doctor, this posed a serious risk to professional standing.
The client paid the fine and left the matter alone, believing it was “no big deal.” It wasn’t until years later, when the PND appeared on an enhanced DBS check, that the potential damage to his career became clear.
ACCIDENTALLY ACCEPTED A PND WITHOUT KNOWING THE IMPACT?
We knew early on that this case would need careful legal work focused on the client’s professional role and the way the PND had been issued. Our team took the following steps:
Context Gathering: Gathered evidence showing the client’s profession, stress levels, and the trivial nature of the incident.
Written Representations: Prepared a detailed written submission for the police explaining how the PND had been issued improperly.
Disproportionate Impact: Outlined how the record was causing harm to someone in a regulated role.
Deletion Request: Formally asked for the PND to be removed from the Police National Computer (PNC).
By focusing on both the context and the long-term consequences, we gave the police a clear reason to delete the record.
The Outcome:
How Legisia Protected & Reinstated The Life
The police accepted our submissions and agreed to delete the Penalty Notice for Disorder from the Police National Computer. The client’s record was cleared. He was able to move forward with his medical career without harm to his professional standing.
At the time, PNDs were often handed out for low-level offences like shoplifting. They were recorded on the PNC and could be disclosed on enhanced DBS certificates.
Although they are no longer widely used, the consequences were real for professionals in regulated roles. In this case, deletion removed that risk entirely.
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Why This Case Mattered — and What Others Can Learn
This case shows how a PND, if left unchallenged, can quietly affect a professional’s career. The client accepted it under pressure, not knowing it would appear on an enhanced DBS check.
Many in regulated roles only realise the impact years later. These records don’t disappear on their own but with the right legal steps, they can be removed.
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