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Police records of people committing petty crimes decades ago are to be deleted because they were causing the holders "harm and distress".
The Information Commissioner has ordered four police forces to delete records, which include one created after the theft of a 99p packet of meat in 1984.
One of the applicants, John Webb, 45, from Hull, now runs a successful business and was in the Army for 20 years.
When he applied for clearance to work with children, a minor conviction surfaced from West Midlands Police records dated 1978, when he was 16.
He was fined £25 after admitting attempted theft and minor criminal damage of a fairground slot machine, relating to the use of metal discs cut to the size of 1p and 10p pieces.
"On receiving this Criminal Records Bureau disclosure I felt surprise, shock, horror and disgust at my being portrayed as convicted of attempted theft and criminal damage," he said.
"I had no idea that this incident would have come to light after such a long period of time.
"Although I accept what happened in the incident was wrong, I consider that by today's standards what I did would be considered more of a juvenile prank.
"I think it is unfair that this information is retained and also that there is no relevance in keeping it."
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas said: "I am sending a very clear signal to the police that conviction data that is excessive and no longer required for policing purposes should be deleted.
"The onus is now on all police forces to consider whether they are holding onto old conviction data that is no longer required for policing purposes."
Assistant commissioner Mick Gorrill, a former detective superintendent, said: "The retention of the previous conviction information is causing harm and distress to the individuals concerned.
"We are not satisfied that in these particular cases this information will be of any use for policing purposes."
The Information Commissioner has ordered four police forces to delete records, which include one created after the theft of a 99p packet of meat in 1984.
One of the applicants, John Webb, 45, from Hull, now runs a successful business and was in the Army for 20 years.
When he applied for clearance to work with children, a minor conviction surfaced from West Midlands Police records dated 1978, when he was 16.
He was fined £25 after admitting attempted theft and minor criminal damage of a fairground slot machine, relating to the use of metal discs cut to the size of 1p and 10p pieces.
"On receiving this Criminal Records Bureau disclosure I felt surprise, shock, horror and disgust at my being portrayed as convicted of attempted theft and criminal damage," he said.
"I had no idea that this incident would have come to light after such a long period of time.
"Although I accept what happened in the incident was wrong, I consider that by today's standards what I did would be considered more of a juvenile prank.
"I think it is unfair that this information is retained and also that there is no relevance in keeping it."
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas said: "I am sending a very clear signal to the police that conviction data that is excessive and no longer required for policing purposes should be deleted.
"The onus is now on all police forces to consider whether they are holding onto old conviction data that is no longer required for policing purposes."
Assistant commissioner Mick Gorrill, a former detective superintendent, said: "The retention of the previous conviction information is causing harm and distress to the individuals concerned.
"We are not satisfied that in these particular cases this information will be of any use for policing purposes."
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