Naturalisation. Good character. Criminality. Suspected criminal activity
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, although not charged or convicted, you are suspected of criminal activity.
The Home Office is entitled to collect and use reliable information about your criminal activity. If you have not been charged of an offence because of the insufficient or inadmissible evidence available, or if you have been charged, but you have been acquitted or you have reached an out-of-court settlement with the prosecutors, the Home Office may still consider whether you are involved in serious crime (for example, drug or human trafficking).
If there is reliable information that you are involved in such crimes, your application will normally be refused. The Secretary of State is not obliged to naturalise you, even where you meet the formal statutory requirements for citizenship. The Secretary of State will not normally be prepared to naturalise you if there is firm and convincing information that you participate in serious crime.
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.