What drug warning?
Question
I recently received a 'notebook warning' for possession of a small amount of herbal cannabis. What does this mean? Will it go on record and how will it affect me in the future?
Answer
In strictly legal terms, there is no criminal conviction that comes with a sentence of a notebook warning. However, what the police are able to do is note locally. This means that if you are caught again, they will take your previous notebook warning (possession of a small amount of cannabis) into account in deciding whether or not to take the case to court.
A warning such as this is not recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC). This means it shouldn't show up on a standard Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check. There is, however, an enhanced CRB check that is used when people apply for certain jobs such as social workers and teachers. It's quite possible that this warning could show up then.
As things stand at the moment, this warning should be deleted from the local records after five years. You can check this by asking at the local station for a subject access check to see what information is being held about you locally.
You should also be aware about possible difficulties with job applications and visas for other countries, especially the USA. If an application form asks if you have ever been convicted for a criminal offence then your answer would be no with regard to this notebook warning. However, if you're asked whether you have ever been in trouble with the police, then the answer would be yes.
If you give false information on a job application, you can be sacked, accused of fraud or pick up a criminal conviction. In addition, knowingly giving false information on a visa application form could result in being sent back to the UK or even have legal action taken against you.
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Question answered by CAB
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