Standard disclosure
A standard disclosure is used to help employers make sure their employees are suitable for certain types of work.
It can apply to people who:
- administer the law, such as solicitors or court workers
- use firearms and explosives licences
- work as accountants
- work as actuaries
Standard disclosure is one type of higher level disclosure. Different jobs use other types of disclosure.
Information included in a standard disclosure
A standard disclosure shows criminal history information from UK records, including:
- unspent convictions
- relevant spent convictions
- unspent cautions
- information from the Sex Offenders Register
The certificate will show if there are no convictions to disclose.
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, some criminal convictions can be treated as 'spent' – meaning they're not relevant to some types of disclosure – after a certain length of time. What convictions are included depends on the type of disclosure you need.
Applying for standard disclosure
If you need a standard disclosure, you'll apply through your employer or another registered body on their behalf. They'll give you either a paper or digital form to complete which they then send back to Disclosure Scotland.
You have to be a registered body to apply for standard disclosure. Alternatively, you can use an umbrella body to make your disclosure applications for you.
Organisations can download a digital form for standard disclosures. Once the form is complete, they need to email it to Disclosure Scotland.
If you cannot complete the digital form, organisations can ask for a paper form instead.
Once the required checks have been made, both you and the registered body who applied for you, will be sent a copy of the standard disclosure certificate.
Cost of standard disclosure
A standard disclosure costs £25. This can be paid by credit or debit card. It can also be paid by invoice if the organisation is registered with Disclosure Scotland.
You will not get a refund unless Disclosure Scotland has made an error.
How long does it take?
90% of disclosure applications are completed within 14 days (not including postage time). You should receive your certificate within this time if there are no mistakes or requests for further information.
Standard disclosure certificate number
If you already have a standard disclosure but cannot find your certificate and need to know your number you can contact us to ask for this. Your certificate needs to be current.
Email: response@disclosurescotland.gov.scot
Phone: 0300 020 0040
Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm
Friday 9am to 3:30pm
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