Getting details of historic speeding offenses

DVLA?

Thats a weird thing to want.

I wonder if that's the same organisation I had to do the same for? Luckily I had all mine on file in my military driver training record.

Give DVLA a ring, they might be able to help. The online search only displays current penalties/disqualifications.

I'd be referring back to the customer and asking them how to get the info. Presumably they have some way to check what you list is true so must know.

(In which case, why even ask - it is indeed odd. Some kind of honesty test?)

tjagain
Full Member

DVLA?

Thats a weird thing to want.

It's a pain in the arse. I'm pretty sure I got the date wrong on mine, trying to remember a 30 year old FPN, I just guessed, it wasn't rejected. I assume as long as you don't try to hide anything you're ok?

In which case, why even ask – it is indeed odd. Some kind of honesty test?

Often is an integrity test, also the EDBS/Vetting system isn't without issue! When I had to do vetting for a role that required all the bells and whistles clearances there were a lot of questions that were verifiable by various databases.

Let's just say that the customer will probably have access to the relevant records!

I did a bit of digging on the DVLA website and found a Freedom of Information request form which I have used to request the information.

I am not sure that the DVLA have records going back that far. I have used the driving license check service at https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and the only info it gives is that I have 0 penalty points - no historical information.

Thats a weird thing to want.

Completely normal for high levels of security clearance.  Partly about your integrity and partly about making sure there’s no skeletons in the closet you can be blackmailed over.  I’ve never heard anyone be refused clearance for historic fixed penalty offences but by asking for all offences they remove the risk that you don’t disclose something you thought was too trivial but they perceive as dishonest.

I assume that they would be happy with a best guess like “Fixed penalty for speeding in London, around 1998/99; £60 + 3 pts”

I don’t *think* dvla will have records that far back - or at least not easily retrieved.  If they do you can be sure it will be painful.  The Acro Link in the OP has an email address for PNC subject access requests.  If it were me I’d give a best guess, but start the ball rolling on that so if the question comes back seeking details you save some time.

I've just been through this. Ring the people doing the check if you have any real concerns, they're really helpful.

The TL;DR was, declare everything and if you don't know then simply say you don't know. Let them do the legwork, they'll have to do that anyway to prove you're wrong. Just be honest.

... there's a thing in the UK around rehabilitation of offenders. After a period of time an offence is considered spent. I highly doubt that a speeding fine 25 years ago should still be notifiable.

What legged me up was the question "have you ever been in court?" Yes, I have, I got two SP30 fines within a rolling three years and then snagged a "driving without insurance" six-pointer because unbeknown to me my insurance started at noon when I took it out at 11:40am.

i think that you can get a driver’s abstract from the dvla that will show penalties. i got a few years ago, but i’ve never had a speeding fine in the uk.

if that doesn’t work, the other thing that springs to mind is asking the people who want the information, how you’d get the information

For minor motoring offences a long way back they will cut you some slack if you aren't exactly correct on dates. Poly's advice is good.

I've got Counter Terrorism Clearance and I guessed mine. I presume you're working for someone for whom driving records are a particular concern? For CTC, I don't think they cross check for such minor offences.

The fact that I don't actually know who my Father is was a much more complex part of the form...

Let’s just say that the customer will probably have access to the relevant records!

I bet they can't see mine from the early 80's - in fact I bet no one actually can who hasn't got the physical copy of my licence in an archive and a way of finding it AKA 10,000 folk to go looking through boxes.

Let’s just say that the customer will probably have access to the relevant records!

Access and the ability to carry out an effective check are, in my experience two different things! Waves at former colleague employed in very sensitive procurement despite a record for theft from employer and then later caught and imprisoned for theft from us.

For my various clearances i just gave details as best I knew them, didnt cause any issue

I assume that they would be happy with a best guess like “Fixed penalty for speeding in London, around 1998/99; £60 + 3 pts”

This. You're not hiding anything, if they can access the records it will check, if they can't access the records they won't know any better.

I highly doubt that sort of data, from so long ago has even been retained anywhere. I don't think it would be appropriate or correct for it to be either.

I thought that the data retention period for motoring offences was like 10 years (and even that's only for the most serious ones - less serious would be disposed of sooner).

ISTR Rehabilitation of Offenders Act has exemptions for some security clearance, sensitive roles etc where nothing is off limits. Can't be bothered to look up the reference.

Seems very unlikely they're gonna care about the actual driving aspect this many years on. If you provide best guess and leave them to track it down, they can't say you tried to conceal or gloss over something - which would be a red flag. As Cougar said.

When I was asked the same questions for what I assume was a similar kind of job I just said "around 1989 ish ?? 40 in a 30, Sheffield". Something along those lines. I have no idea when it actually was but its around that date. Seemed to have been good enough for them.

historic speeding offenses

Guinness book of records?

I presume you meant historical 😉

The fact that I don’t actually know who my Father is was a much more complex part of the form…

Ring any bells?…

I would have thought there's a GDPR issue about destroying data once it's no longer important to keep. In university land, we're obliged to destroy records that have no current use. Or perhaps those records are supposed to live with you forever?

I've just had to go through this for a firearms licence renewal.  It is acceptable to put approximately and the year of the offence.   DVLA didn't hold any details of mine as they are no longer on my licence

The fact that I don’t actually know who my Father is was a much more complex part of the form…

I have a similar issue and to add complication I have to respect the fact that my OHs Father doesn't want his or his family's details on security forms. No criminality, he just likes his privacy, which is fair enough.
I've had documents lost in the past when applying.

It's slightly frustrating that different authorities each require separate clearance forms. I tend to avoid doing them and refuse now to send original documents which inconveniences the client as they have to escort me.

@pictonroad

I’ve got Counter Terrorism Clearance

But does your clearance allow you to tell anyone that you have said clearance? I was under the impression that it should be kept low key. (One minute your talking about your clearance, next minute you are sharing top secret documents...or perhaps more realistically, identified as someone that could be a useful associate)

It's always an eye opener when asking people at work to go through a vetting process...a few colleagues clearly had criminal history in their close family, or perhaps their own past, as they were unable to get family consent to fill out the application documents.

But does your clearance allow you to tell anyone that you have said clearance?

We had a lad booted out of a support unit for posting a selfie on SM of himself in a fairly innocuous building with nothing exciting in the background. It was the location tag and the unit policy of no digital footprint that clipped him.

He didn't have any rank to take, which I'm sure if he did he'd have lost it to one degree or another.

Might be different in the civilian world.

But does your clearance allow you to tell anyone that you have said clearance?

CTC is the lowest level of security clearance, it’s not supposed to allow access to secret material so it’s pretty much fairly standard across a lot of civil service departments and of no great importance. I’ve never had anyone say it’s hush-hush as opposed to other vetting levels or the actual role in question.

Might be different in the civilian world.

Civil service - SM profiles are a definite problem from a security pov, when we recruit I ask about sm exposure and expect candidates to cease / considerably downscale it. Certainly nothing that would identify specific work places or deployments etc would be allowed and for some roles even more draconian self-censorship or cessation would be expected.

CTC is the lowest level of security clearance

Would that be the defence equivalent of basic clearance? Up to restricted?

CTC;

Who needs it and what it provides access to.

Individuals who are to be employed in posts which:

involve proximity to public figures assessed to be at particular risk from terrorist attack
give access to information or material assessed to be of value to terrorists
involve unescorted access to certain military, civil, industrial or commercial establishments assessed to be at particular risk from terrorist attack.

Gotcha. Cheers.

All here including ‘up your hoop’ eDV
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

I've had the joy of DV. Felt much like D&V. 🤣