POLICE OFFICER ELIGIBILITY

• Missing information – take your time and carefully read through the questions and any available guidance.
• Always be honest – if you’re asking yourself whether you need to declare something on your vetting form, include it. The vetting unit will discount any information that is not required.
• If you can’t remember or provide specific details include a rationale detailing why.
• Provide your full address history (including any student accommodation).
• Always provide a full list of family members, including half siblings, stepfamily and the full details of a partner or spouse.
• Including details of boyfriend/girlfriend under the spouse/partner section. We require details of those with whom you are co-residing as partners or those you are married or in a civil partnership with)
• Make sure you provide maiden names, dates of birth and addresses for all the people listed on your vetting forms.
• Declare all previous interactions with the police. All police involvement is recorded on our systems; if you fail to declare it your honesty and integrity could come into question.
  • For police staff and volunteer roles, protected cautions and convictions do no have to be disclosed as per the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
• Include details of any criminal associates – this includes friends, family members and those you live with.

It is important that the Force Vetting Unit is made aware of any changes in your personal circumstances both during and after the vetting process.  You are responsible for communicating these changes.

You should make the Force Vetting Unit aware of:

• Change of name or address
• Change of co-residents over the age of 10
• Change of partner
• Significant changes in financial status (including a windfall over £9,000, defaulted account, county court judgement or participation in a debt management plan etc.)
• Involvement in legal proceedings of any criminal nature (this includes criminal convictions and cautions and motoring offences including speeding fines)
• Adverse findings in civil matters (including child contact restrictions, non-molestation orders, bankruptcy orders etc.)
• Any convictions or cautions for criminal offences or involvement in criminal investigations relating to anyone included on your original vetting or application forms.

There are many reasons why an applicant can be refused and where possible the applicant will be told the reasons.  However there are a number of situations where they cannot be told because the information held may relate to a family member, criminal associate or may be subject of an exemption from disclosure under the Data Protection Act.

Yes. You may appeal a vetting decision where you believe one or more of the following factors apply.

• Further information is available that was not considered by the decision maker.
• The vetting rejection was disproportionate considering the circumstances or details of the case.
• The decision was perverse or unreasonable.
• No explanation was given for the decision.

Any appeal must be in writing and must clearly set out the grounds for appeal. Appeals are dealt with by a senior officer or member of staff who is independent of the original decision-making process and has not been previously involved in the case. Applicants should address their appeal to the Force Vetting Unit in the first instance who will pass the appeal, along with any rationale for the decision, to a senior officer or member of staff who will look into the case and respond directly to the applicant.

Each case is treated on its merits and therefore it depends on what information is found during the checks. Sometimes it is necessary to call the applicant to interview so that their personal circumstances may be discussed and sometimes it is necessary to make enquiries in other forces or with other bodies. Therefore, we do not give a set time to complete a vetting file but deal with them as quickly as possible.

• Missing information – take your time and carefully read through the questions and any available guidance.
• Always be honest – if you’re asking yourself whether you need to declare something on your vetting form, include it. The vetting unit will discount any information that is not required.
• If you can’t remember or provide specific details include a rationale detailing why.
• Provide your full address history (including any student accommodation).
• Always provide a full list of family members, including half siblings, stepfamily and the full details of a partner or spouse.
• Including details of boyfriend/girlfriend under the spouse/partner section. We require details of those with whom you are co-residing as partners or those you are married or in a civil partnership with)
• Make sure you provide maiden names, dates of birth and addresses for all the people listed on your vetting forms.
• Declare all previous interactions with the police. All police involvement is recorded on our systems; if you fail to declare it your honesty and integrity could come into question.
  • For police staff and volunteer roles, protected cautions and convictions do no have to be disclosed as per the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
• Include details of any criminal associates – this includes friends, family members and those you live with.

It is important that the Force Vetting Unit is made aware of any changes in your personal circumstances both during and after the vetting process.  You are responsible for communicating these changes.

You should make the Force Vetting Unit aware of:

• Change of name or address
• Change of co-residents over the age of 10
• Change of partner
• Significant changes in financial status (including a windfall over £9,000, defaulted account, county court judgement or participation in a debt management plan etc.)
• Involvement in legal proceedings of any criminal nature (this includes criminal convictions and cautions and motoring offences including speeding fines)
• Adverse findings in civil matters (including child contact restrictions, non-molestation orders, bankruptcy orders etc.)
• Any convictions or cautions for criminal offences or involvement in criminal investigations relating to anyone included on your original vetting or application forms.

There are many reasons why an applicant can be refused and where possible the applicant will be told the reasons.  However there are a number of situations where they cannot be told because the information held may relate to a family member, criminal associate or may be subject of an exemption from disclosure under the Data Protection Act.

Yes. You may appeal a vetting decision where you believe one or more of the following factors apply.

• Further information is available that was not considered by the decision maker.
• The vetting rejection was disproportionate considering the circumstances or details of the case.
• The decision was perverse or unreasonable.
• No explanation was given for the decision.

Any appeal must be in writing and must clearly set out the grounds for appeal. Appeals are dealt with by a senior officer or member of staff who is independent of the original decision-making process and has not been previously involved in the case. Applicants should address their appeal to the Force Vetting Unit in the first instance who will pass the appeal, along with any rationale for the decision, to a senior officer or member of staff who will look into the case and respond directly to the applicant.

Each case is treated on its merits and therefore it depends on what information is found during the checks. Sometimes it is necessary to call the applicant to interview so that their personal circumstances may be discussed and sometimes it is necessary to make enquiries in other forces or with other bodies. Therefore, we do not give a set time to complete a vetting file but deal with them as quickly as possible.