The Honours Forfeiture Committee
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What to do if you receive a notification from the Honours Forfeiture Committee that your honour award might be forfeited
What is honour forfeiture?
Honours such as OBEs, CBEs, and knighthoods are awarded to individuals for outstanding achievements or service to the United Kingdom. However, under certain circumstances, these honours may be forfeited. The Forfeiture Committee, which operates under the Cabinet Office, is responsible for reviewing cases where it may be appropriate to remove an honour. This usually happens when the recipient has brought the honours system into disrepute.
Criminal convictions and honour forfeiture
Suspended sentences and practical realities
No appeal and limited time to respond
Mental health assessments and personal circumstances
References, case comparisons and discretion
Criminal convictions and honour forfeiture
One reason why someone might be subject to honour forfeiture is if they are convicted of a criminal offence. In the past, individuals have lost their honours for crimes such as fraud, sexual offences, and other serious misconduct. For instance, if a person receives a prison sentence of three months or more, the Forfeiture Committee will automatically consider their case.
Behaviour that damages the reputation of the honours system or contradicts the reason the honour was given can also lead to forfeiture, even if no criminal conviction is involved. This includes cases of professional misconduct, unethical business practices, or behaviour deemed grossly inappropriate.
The is an official guidance on automatic consideration by the Honours Forfeiture Committee, and which is published by the Cabinet Office, and which states that automatic consideration for forfeiture arises when someone has been convicted by a court and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than three months.
Other circumstances that might prompt consideration include being struck off by a professional body, being disqualified from being a company director, or where there is other compelling evidence that the individual has brought the honours system into disrepute. The guidance also explains that the process is not limited to criminal convictions, and behaviour that undermines the integrity of the honours system more generally may also be reviewed.
Suspended sentences and practical realities
At present, there is no clear authority stating that a suspended prison sentence triggers automatic consideration by the Honours Forfeiture Committee. While a suspended sentence is still considered a sentence of imprisonment under UK law, the Cabinet Office has not confirmed that this falls within the scope of automatic referral.
Although the guidance refers to automatic consideration, in practice this rarely happens as a matter of routine. The process is largely complaint-driven. If the honoured person remains quiet and no one draws attention to the conviction or regulatory action, the Honours Forfeiture Committee is unlikely to find out about it.
There is currently no system in place for regularly checking criminal convictions or professional suspensions. This gap means that some individuals may continue to hold honours despite events that would normally call them into question. However, should a complaint be made or media coverage highlight the issue, the Committee can and often does initiate proceedings, regardless of how much time has passed since the original incident.
No appeal and limited time to respond
It is also important to understand that the Committee can come after your honour at any time. The time given to prepare a defence is often quite short and there is no appeal process, so you should not take any chances. If you believe you might be on the Committee's radar, it may be worthwhile to take advice early. Additionally, if you are facing court proceedings that could result in a prison sentence or involve sexual offences, it is crucial to seek advice from a reputational lawyer before deciding whether to plead guilty or not guilty.
A conviction could trigger a review of your honour by the Forfeiture Committee, with serious long-term consequences for your public and professional standing. These consequences often go far beyond the immediate legal penalties and may not be fully considered by your criminal lawyer or barrister. A reputational lawyer can help you understand the broader risks and advise you on how to protect your honour and career. Making an informed decision at this stage is vital, especially given that the Committee's decision is final.
To build a strong defence if your honour is at risk, we will begin by collecting a wide range of evidence in your defence. This includes a full account of the circumstances surrounding any conviction, as often the situation may appear worse on paper than it actually was. We might apply for a transcript of the court proceedings or the sentencing remarks made by the judge, which can provide important context that helps explain what really happened. We will also review any previous convictions or relevant personal issues that might affect how your conduct is perceived.
Mental health assessments and personal circumstances
In relevant cases, we pay particular attention to your mental health. In the past, clients have been diagnosed—sometimes for the first time in their lives—with learning difficulties, dyslexia, mild autism, or other traits on the spectrum. These conditions could help explain a lack of social awareness, seemingly antisocial behaviour, or difficulty in appreciating how their words or actions might be perceived at the time.
While these diagnoses are never used as excuses, they often support the view that the Committee should not rush to penalise individuals without full consideration. Bear in mind that many people who are awarded honours are often single-minded, determined individuals who have succeeded against the odds. They may have struggled with social skills, lacked formal education or qualifications, or found traditional routes to success difficult.
Rather than seeking help or diagnosis, many learned to manage these challenges independently by surrounding themselves with supportive people, avoiding particular situations, or developing alternative ways to succeed. For these reasons, such conditions may not be identified until much later, often following our recommendation that clients undergo specialist assessments. This broader understanding is vital when presenting your case to the The Honours Forfeiture Committee.
References, case comparisons and discretion
Other key materials include character references and research into comparable cases. In some instances, individuals with similar or even more serious convictions were not referred to the Committee or were allowed to retain their honours. We use this information to build persuasive arguments in your favour.
It is worth noting that the The Honours Forfeiture Committee has a great deal of discretion, and its decisions are not always transparent, which means this could also go in your favour even in serious cases. Outcomes can vary, and so it is essential to present the strongest possible case. Since submissions must be made in writing, the bundles we prepare often include hundreds of pages of supporting documents.
