Apply to remove a conviction for same-sex sexual activity
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-28)

Under the disregards and pardons scheme, you can get a historic conviction for same-sex sexual activity removed.

Anyone with a historical conviction, caution, warning or reprimand for consensual same-sex sexual activity, can apply to the Home Office to have it deleted from the record.

If your application is successful, your records will be updated and the conviction will no longer appear on a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (previously CRB check) or referred to in any future court proceedings.

How to apply

To apply, read the disregards and pardons scheme applicant guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-apply-to-remove-a-conviction-for-decriminalised-sex-offences) and complete the application form.

You will need to provide:
- proof of identity (such as a copy of your driving licence)
- proof of address (such as a copy of a bank statement).
- details of your conviction
The full list of accepted ID documents can be found in the application form.

If you do not remember the specific details of your conviction or are not sure whether the offence has since been repealed, provide as much information as possible. We will do our best to look into it for you.

Your application and any attachments you send us will be treated confidentially.

It’s free to apply.

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) if you need a Welsh version of the application form.

How to fill out the form

Read the disregards and pardons scheme applicant guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-apply-to-remove-a-conviction-for-decriminalised-sex-offences) on how to apply for a disregard and pardon of convictions for decriminalised sex offences.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e73f6120ae89000df26d54/Disregards_and_pardons_application_form_31.05.23.odt)

Disregarding convictions for decriminalised sex offences: form (ODT) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e73f6120ae89000df26d54/Disregards_and_pardons_application_form_31.05.23.odt)

ODT, 13.7 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-open-document-formats-odf-in-your-organisation) format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e73f38db1c07000d22b393/Disregards_and_pardons_application_form_31.05.23.pdf)

Disregarding convictions for decriminalised sex offences: form (PDF) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e73f38db1c07000d22b393/Disregards_and_pardons_application_form_31.05.23.pdf)

PDF, 84.1 KB, 7 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Where to send your application form

Email the form to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or post it to:

Disregards Caseworking TeamPublic Protection Unit5th Floor Fry Building2 Marsham StreetLondonSW1P 4DF

If you send your sensitive and personal data by email, you should carefully check the recipient’s email address to ensure it is: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The Home Office accepts no liability for any misdirection of emails with attachments that may include sensitive and personal data.

What happens next

Read the disregards and pardons scheme: caseworker guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disregards-and-pardons-scheme-caseworker-guidance) if you would like to know more about how your case will be assessed.

Privacy notice

Read the disregards and pardons scheme: privacy information notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disregards-and-pardons-scheme-privacy-information-notice) to find out how the Home Office will process your data for the purposes of administering the disregards and pardons scheme.

Statistics on disregards and pardons

View statistics on disregards and pardons for historical same-sex sexual convictions (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/same-sex-sexual-conviction-disregards-june-2023-to-march-2025/historical-same-sex-sexual-conviction-disregards-and-pardons-june-2023-to-march-2025)