Naturalisation. Good character. Criminality. Offender causing serious harm
If you apply to naturalise as a British citizen, you must satisfy the good character requirement. A factor considered when assessing your character is whether you have committed offences that caused serious harm.
The Home Office guidance on the good character requirement defines “serious harm” as a serious physical or psychological harm to a victim or victims that remains ongoing, or that has contributed to a widespread problem that causes serious harm to a community or to society in general.
Examples given of offences causing serious harm are those committed with violence, related to drugs or sex, hate crimes, or racially or religiously motivated ones.
If you have recently committed an offence which caused serious harm, you may fail to satisfy the good character requirement, and your application for citizenship may be refused.
If you want to apply for British citizenship or for a British passport and need specialist advice, feel free to contact me. Please note that I am an accredited immigration adviser, not an employee of the UK Visas and Immigration. I charge fees for the advice provided.