I recently recieved a police caution for poession of weed. do i need to inform the nhs (i work for nhs)?

Toby D

You're not a dentist, you're a fantasist. Do you not think the police have got better things to do than bust smokers using "undercover cops" - you are obviously a child living in a dream world.
BTW, 90% of dentists are self employed, and if you were intelligent enough to become one, you wouldn't be asking stupid questions on YA.
You have indeed been busted my child.

Ding dong, I'm Sparticus 2.

Hmnn...I wouldn't. It's a false crime in my eyes though young kids should be kept away from it (developing brains, etc). But I'd try not to get caught again.

Bardic

Depends if it was a formal caution, where you are charged, admit it and then are formally cautioned instead of going to court. If so, it goes on your record. Probably your terms & conditions of service require that you disclose that.

If, however, it was just an earful from the police then I doubt if you need to disclose that.

Steph007ess

It's a caution, that's all. If it were anything more then I would say yes but since there is nothing actually against your name then there shouldn't be any need to.

KarmicAnarchist

No, and it won't show up on enhanced background check, as it is not a conviction.

siobhan w

I wouldn't if I were you.

nana .know it all

That is your Business unless you chose to tell there will be a Chance that you will lose your job keep sh tum

Laura Sue

No it was just a warning so I wouldn't say anything. I would tell him/her if you were actually ticketed for it.

redtiderising

Don't be silly... do you want to have to change careers all ready? Pot may not be perceived the same way it was even just a few years ago, but in your line of work, for your PATIENTS to have confidence in you, you can't even have a HINT of drug use any where near you. You don't have to go to court for a warning, so let it die quietly, and be thankful. Do your smoking in the comfort (and safety!!) of your own home.

LONDONER Â©

Depends on whether you're bound by any code of conduct to declare such things

JoJo!

I don't want a druggie as my dentist, moron.

Mad Max

Thankfully I don't use the NHS

Scarlett write

In the UK, you should report this to your employer especially if looking after vulneable people i.e children. This crime would show up on your enhanced CRB if you change jobs. It could be assumed that you work under the influence of drugs and you could get spot tested and sacked.

i would be wrong to tell you not to tell, but you would most likely lose your job if you did. perhaps you should consider going into private practice??

gio

it wasnt reported.but your posting about it here is.Are you an idiot? how were u caught-what gave them a right to search you in the first place ?--did u give them permission?

Philbomoog

Working for the NHS would indicate you are in the UK where we have the Notifiable Occupations Scheme

The police are required to notify the appropriate Government department, professional body and/or the employer when it comes to notice that an individual is working in one of the professions or occupations listed in Category 1 or Category 2

Category 1: Applies to professions or occupations bearing special trust and responsibility where substantial public interest considerations arise specifically in relation to the protection of the vulnerable (including children), national security and the probity in the administration of justice.

Category 2: Applies to less sensitive professions or occupations where probity and integrity may nevertheless be an important factor. In these cases, a test of relevance should be applied before the decision to share conviction or other information is made.

I would suggest that an NHS dentist would fall within category 2 as you would have access to prescripted medication, and vulnerable persons.

I suggest you contact a solicitor for further guidance.

Mr Abba

I wouldnt worry about that.

ed209

Phil above is spot on with his reply but more info is needed for a full reply.

With regards to the warning / caution you were given was it an official one?

With cannabis smokers 1 of 3 options would have occurred.

1. Unofficially the police will tell you to throw away the drugs i.e. down a drain, give you a bollocking and leave you on your way. This type of 'caution' is unofficial and not recorded anywhere. (In fact since it goes against government policy of criminalising everyone and generating pointless figures even the police willl deney this ever happend or they will be in the brown stuff).

2. Street warning. An official warning whereby you would have signed over the cannabis but not been arrested. This type of warning is recorded 'locally' and wouldnt show on a CRB check.

3. Simple Caution. An official caution after arrest given at a custody block. This will be recorded against you 'record' and you employer would be notified (if you said what you worked as!).

Outside the police telling your employer it would come down to the NHS policy as to if you MUST inform them of such things.

LillyB

Unfortunately a caution is for life and it will follow you everywhere - personally I wouldn't mention it but maybe you had better check your contract of employment.

Mark F

Nope. technically it's illegal for an employer, or potential employer, to ask you if you've ever been convicted of a criminal offense. What they are allowed to ask is if you have a criminal record. It's an important difference because in the event of minor crimes (e.g. drug misdemeanors, shoplifting offenses etc) the court can hand down a sentence and rule that it be stricken from the record if you pass a probationary period without re-offending. Asking someone if they have EVER been convicted of a particular offense effectively overrides the courts ruling and leaves people vulnerable to unfair discrimination for the rest of their lives over relatively minor offenses.

Your particular case could be a bit problematic because you got caught while practicing and there could be a clause in your employment contract that you have to notify your employer in the event of any incidents such as this. If you're worried about it then I would double-check with a lawyer and possibly even the ACLU to see if the clause is legally binding; it's quite possible that US law only requires you to disclose convictions and not warnings. (I'm assuming you're in the US).

At the end of the day though if you only got an on-the-spot warning then there won't be any legal record of it...the law is quite clear about what can be kept on record in cases like this. I wouldn't worry about it.

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