关于作者
Kwok 是一位常驻伦敦的执业律师，持有英格兰及威尔士执业资格，并受英国律师监管局（SRA）监管；同时已在英国外交、联邦及发展事务部（FCDO）备案。Kwok 曾在多家知名律所及企业担任法律顾问及公司法务。他亲自把关银杏顾问的每一宗海牙认证及文件合法化案件，确保流程一致、准确，并实现端到端的质量控制。
Kwok Lam
银杏顾问 法律顾问
如果您需要申请 ACRO 警方证明，并随后办理 英国 FCDO 海牙认证，银杏顾问可以通过两种实际方式协助您。
您可以自行申请证明，并要求 ACRO 将证明原件直接寄送至我们伦敦办公室；也可以委托银杏顾问代您申请证明，并随后安排海牙认证。
Option 1: You Apply for the ACRO Police Certificate Yourself
您可以自行完成 ACRO 警方证明 申请。
申请过程中，您可以要求 ACRO 将证明原件直接寄送至我们伦敦办公室。
我们收到证明原件后，如文件适用于我们的加急海牙认证路径，银杏顾问可以为您安排 2 个工作日英国 FCDO 海牙认证。
如果您希望自行管理 ACRO 申请流程，但希望在海牙认证阶段获得专业协助，这一方式会比较适合。
The process is:
您提交 ACRO 申请 → ACRO 将证明原件寄送至我们伦敦办公室 → 银杏顾问安排英国 FCDO 海牙认证 → 我们将完成海牙认证的证明寄回给您
Option 2: Ginkgo Advisory Applies for the ACRO Police Certificate for You
如果您希望采用托管流程，银杏顾问可以代您申请 ACRO 警方证明。
ACRO 出具证明后，我们可以为您安排 英国 FCDO 海牙认证。
This option may suit applicants who want support with the ACRO application, disclosure-related questions and apostille process.
The process is:
银杏顾问准备 ACRO 申请 → ACRO 出具证明 → 银杏顾问安排英国 FCDO 海牙认证 → 我们将完成海牙认证的证明寄回给您
What Is the ACRO Step-Down Model?
文件经Police Certificate 和 ICPC 表格也都包含犯罪记录页面。 ACRO Step-down Model is used to decide what offence information should appear on an ACRO Police Certificate.
ACRO explains that criminal conviction records are retained on the Law Enforcement Data Service, known as LEDS, until the person is treated as having reached 100 years of age. However, the Step-down Model is applied to Police Certificates so that disclosure is proportionate and necessary for the intended purpose, in line with data protection legislation.
Does Step-Down Mean the Record Is Deleted?
No. Step-down does not mean the record has been deleted from police systems.
ACRO explains that when an offence is stepped down, it is not removed from LEDS. It means that the offence may not be disclosed through the ACRO Police Certificate process after the relevant step-down rules apply.
This distinction matters because an applicant may still need to answer questions from an overseas authority carefully, depending on the wording of that authority’s form.
What Factors Affect Step-Down?
ACRO considers several factors when applying the Step-down Model.
可网上申请的证书包括：
- 犯罪行为的严重程度
- The applicant’s age at the time of the offence
- 案件结果
- 所判处的刑罚
- Whether there has been a clear period without further offending
The ACRO guidance divides offences into categories A, B and C, with category A being the most serious and category C being the least serious.
Adult and Young Person Categories
For step-down purposes, ACRO defines an adult as someone who was 18 or older at the time of conviction.
A young person means someone who was under 18 at the time of conviction.
This distinction can affect the relevant step-down period.
Clear Periods and Re-Offending
The Step-down Model uses “clear periods” from offending.
If the person re-offends during the clear period, the time clock may reset and a new clear period may begin.
This means the timing of later offences can affect whether earlier offence history is disclosed on the certificate.
Impending Prosecutions and Current Investigations
ACRO states that step-down is not applied to impending prosecutions.
An impending prosecution means the person has been charged, but the outcome is not yet known or has not yet been recorded on LEDS.
ACRO also states that step-down is not applied to matters under investigation. Once the outcome has been recorded, the relevant step-down rules can then be applied.
Why the Step-Down Model Matters for Applicants
The Step-down Model can affect what appears on the ACRO Police Certificate.
However, if a conviction is not shown on the certificate, an embassy, organisation or overseas authority may still ask the applicant for further information.
ACRO states that where convictions are not included, organisations or embassies may request supplementary details, and the obligation to supply this information lies with the applicant.
Therefore, applicants should read overseas application forms carefully and answer disclosure questions according to the wording of the receiving authority.
Step-Down Periods: General Overview
ACRO’s guidance includes a detailed step-down table.
The periods vary depending on whether the applicant was an adult or young person, whether the sentence was custodial or non-custodial, and whether the offence falls within category A, B or C.
For example, some category A custodial convictions do not step down. Other offences may step down after a clear period, depending on the sentence and offence category.
Because these rules can be detailed, applicants should avoid assuming that an old matter will or will not appear. The certificate outcome depends on ACRO’s assessment under the Step-down Model.
If You Need the Certificate Apostilled
The Step-down Model affects the content of the ACRO Police Certificate.
The apostille process is separate.
Once ACRO issues the original certificate, Ginkgo Advisory can arrange the UK FCDO apostille in 2 working days, where suitable.
If you apply yourself, you can ask ACRO to send the original certificate directly to our London office so that we can proceed with the apostille stage.
银杏顾问可以如何协助您
银杏顾问可以协助：
ACRO Police Certificate 申请协助
Step-down model and disclosure route awareness
ACRO Police Certificate application on behalf of eligible applicants
Arranging ACRO Police Certificate delivery to our London office
ACRO 出具证明后办理英国 FCDO 海牙认证
2 working day UK FCDO apostille, where suitable
将完成海牙认证的证明寄回给您
无论您选择自行申请，还是委托我们代为申请，我们都可以协助您建立一条清晰的流程，从 ACRO 申请一直到 FCDO 海牙认证完成。
联系我们
地址
Suite 161, 30 Red Lion Street, Richmond, London
Chinese 
English