Why This Case Mattered — and What Others Can Learn
This case shows that a refused application is not the end of the matter. The record had been refused once before we were instructed, and a fresh application reached a different result.
It also shows how much turns on the way a case is prepared and presented. Two applications can ask for exactly the same thing and still be very different pieces of work. The facts of this case did not change between the first application and the second. What changed was how thoroughly the case was investigated, how the evidence was gathered, and how the application was put together. That made the difference between a refusal and a deletion.
Finally, it shows that the harm done by an arrest record is not only about what an employer might one day see. For many of our clients, it is the record itself, and the thought of it sitting there for the rest of their lives, that weighs most heavily. Deletion lifts that weight.
If an application to delete your arrest record has been refused, or you want to know whether yours can be challenged, Legisia’s Arrest Record Deletion service can assess whether there is a realistic basis to do so.
Q&A
Can I apply again if a previous deletion application was refused?
In the right circumstances, yes. The police may decline to reconsider a case they regard as already decided, so a fresh application needs to be approached carefully. In this case the record had been refused once, and a fresh application still succeeded.
Will an arrest with no charge show on an Enhanced DBS check?
It can, although it is not automatic. An arrest that led to no further action is not a conviction or a caution, but the police can disclose it on an Enhanced DBS certificate where they consider it relevant. Many people find that the uncertainty itself is the hardest part to live with.
