British Citizenship – Good Character & shoplifting mixup
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:10 am
I have applied for naturalisation along with my wife and 3 children, about 10 days ago. But there's something that's worrying me now.
7 months ago, my wife was stopped for shoplifting in a shop and police were called. This was very unfortunate because when she was searched, she had a few items in her handbag for which she could not provide a receipt. She had bought these items from the same shop a few days ago (and a few days after this incident we found the original receipt as well) but it was too late by then. The police officer offered that if she accepts shoplifting, she will not be prosecuted and the matter will be closed right then and there subject to a ‘community settlement’ or ‘community resolution’. From ‘community resolution’ they meant that she will have to pay for the items, she will be banned from that shop but there will be no further legal proceedings. My wife’s English is not very good, and she was absolutely terrified in the presence of police officers, so she admitted it (because she thought that was the easy way out). At this point, she called me and I also met the shop staff and the police.
The police officer told us that:
This matter will not be taken to court if we pay for the confiscated items (about £80).
They categorically told me that it is not a caution, warning or criminal conviction.
They told me that this incident will stay on my wife’s records in the computers of the police and will show up in case of a ‘detailed/ enhanced CRB check’. For example, if she applied for a job in foster care sector or security industry, this information will be visible on the CRB report.
BUT, they also told me that we ARE NOT REQUIRED to disclose this if we apply for a job or a visa extension. The police officer said that ‘In response to all questions where you’re asked: Do you have any criminal conviction/ warning/ reprimand/ caution, you should say NO’. But, this information will be recorded on police computers against your name and DOB.
After a few days, we received a letter from the debt recovery firm to pay £80, which we paid immediately.
In my wife’s naturalisation form, we did not disclose this (we ticked NO to all the questions relating to criminal convictions/ offences). I spoke to the lady at NCS at the time of our appointment and told her the whole story, and she also said that as there were no further legal proceedings or prosecution, there is no need to disclose it (yes, she said that).
Now, this thought is continuously haunting us. Since the applications have been submitted, should we now write a letter to the Home Office and tell them about this incident or not? They might think that we withheld information and they might refuse applications of the whole family. If we tell them now, they might turn around and ask that why didn’t we disclose this in the application form? Why didn’t we disclose it earlier and why are we disclosing it now? Is there really a need to tell them? Should I just withdraw my wife’s application and submit it later (after the rest of the family get our citizenship sorted)? It’s driving me insane and your help/ guidance will be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
7 months ago, my wife was stopped for shoplifting in a shop and police were called. This was very unfortunate because when she was searched, she had a few items in her handbag for which she could not provide a receipt. She had bought these items from the same shop a few days ago (and a few days after this incident we found the original receipt as well) but it was too late by then. The police officer offered that if she accepts shoplifting, she will not be prosecuted and the matter will be closed right then and there subject to a ‘community settlement’ or ‘community resolution’. From ‘community resolution’ they meant that she will have to pay for the items, she will be banned from that shop but there will be no further legal proceedings. My wife’s English is not very good, and she was absolutely terrified in the presence of police officers, so she admitted it (because she thought that was the easy way out). At this point, she called me and I also met the shop staff and the police.
The police officer told us that:
This matter will not be taken to court if we pay for the confiscated items (about £80).
They categorically told me that it is not a caution, warning or criminal conviction.
They told me that this incident will stay on my wife’s records in the computers of the police and will show up in case of a ‘detailed/ enhanced CRB check’. For example, if she applied for a job in foster care sector or security industry, this information will be visible on the CRB report.
BUT, they also told me that we ARE NOT REQUIRED to disclose this if we apply for a job or a visa extension. The police officer said that ‘In response to all questions where you’re asked: Do you have any criminal conviction/ warning/ reprimand/ caution, you should say NO’. But, this information will be recorded on police computers against your name and DOB.
After a few days, we received a letter from the debt recovery firm to pay £80, which we paid immediately.
In my wife’s naturalisation form, we did not disclose this (we ticked NO to all the questions relating to criminal convictions/ offences). I spoke to the lady at NCS at the time of our appointment and told her the whole story, and she also said that as there were no further legal proceedings or prosecution, there is no need to disclose it (yes, she said that).
Now, this thought is continuously haunting us. Since the applications have been submitted, should we now write a letter to the Home Office and tell them about this incident or not? They might think that we withheld information and they might refuse applications of the whole family. If we tell them now, they might turn around and ask that why didn’t we disclose this in the application form? Why didn’t we disclose it earlier and why are we disclosing it now? Is there really a need to tell them? Should I just withdraw my wife’s application and submit it later (after the rest of the family get our citizenship sorted)? It’s driving me insane and your help/ guidance will be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.