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Rehabilitation Period for convictions
(For guidance only as we may consider spent convictions in some cases)| Type of Conviction | When Spent |
| Imprisonment for more than 2½ years | Never Spent |
| Imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution between 6 months and 2½ years | 10 years |
| Imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution for 6 months or less | 7 years |
| Fine, compensation, community rehabilitation order and community service order | 5 years |
| Bind over or conditional discharge | 1 year or until the order expires (whichever is longer) |
| Absolute discharge | 6 months |
| Driving whilst drink or drug influenced | 11 years after date of conviction |
| Other motoring offences | 4 years after date of conviction (or date of offence in some cases) |
YOU MUST ALSO TELL US ABOUT CAUTIONS / WARNINGS / REPRIMANDS OR ANY PENDING PROSECUTIONS OUTSTANDING AGAINST YOU.
The Portsmouth City Council has adopted policy guidelines on the relevance of convictions (which have been discussed with trade representatives) and although each case will always be determined on individual merit the following examples give a general guide:
| Type of Conviction | Our Guidelines |
| Minor traffic offences eg speeding, bald tyres, illegal parking | OK with verbal warning - If 9 points on driving licence then may appear before Licensing Committee for consideration. |
| Short period of disqualification from driving under 'totting up' rules | Licence can be granted or restored at end of disqualification subject to interview and written warnng as to future conduct. |
| Major traffic offences eg failure to stop or report an accident, careless driving, reckless driving, dangerous driving, no insurance | One isolated conviction should normally merit written warning.More than one conviction for a major traffic offence will normally result in a subsequent 3 year ban from obtaining or holding a licence. |
| Drink Driving | Normally a 3 year ban from obtaining a licence after restoration of driving licence and medical reports (if necessary) to support application. If person is an alcoholic normally a ban for 5 years after detoxification treatment has finished. |
| Drunkenness or drunk and disorderly | No further action unless evidence of repeated offences requiring medical reports to support application. |
| Drug offences | Normally a 3 year ban from obtaining or holding a licence after date of last conviction or 5 years after end of detoxification treatment if an addict. If using drugs whilst driving then same principles for drink driving will normally apply. |
| Indecency offences eg indecent exposure, indecent assault, importuning or other such offences |
Normally, a 3 year ban from obtaining or holding a licence after date of last conviction. More than one conviction of this kind will normally require a 5 year ban after date of last conviction and written warning as to future conduct. |
| Violence offences eg assault, ABH, GBH, wounding | Normally a 3 year ban from obtaining or holding a licence after date of last conviction. |
| Dishonesty offences, eg fraud, handling, burglary, theft | Normally a 3-5 year ban from obtaining or holding a licence after date of last conviction. |
| General |
There may be some cases where the type or nature of convictions or because of the public interest that Licensing staff will not grant or renew a licence without referral to the Licensing Committee. |
