Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to hold chief officers of police to account for the appropriate vetting of adverse information on police recruits regarding (1) security, (2) public safety, and (3) the confidence of the community.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Police forces carry out their vetting independently of government and in line with the College of Policing’s vetting code of practice and vetting authorised professional practice (APP) guidance, which are both continually reviewed. The code sets out the role that a thorough and effective vetting regime has in helping to ensure public trust and confidence in those working in policing.
The College’s most recent code, published in July 2023, sets out how adverse information should be considered in vetting decisions, as well as provides a number of requirements on chief officers, including the need to assess the risks posed by the individual undergoing vetting both to the public and the police service.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) hold forces to account by routinely carry out independent inspections of forces’ effectiveness and efficiency, which include assessments on vetting. The inspectorate has recently set up a new rolling inspection programme on integrity which will look at the work of professional standards units alongside force vetting and counter-corruption arrangements.
The government is supporting policing by creating a statutory requirement for officers to hold and maintain vetting clearance, as well as creating a new set of regulations which will govern how those who fail vetting can be dismissed. In January this year, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) also published outcomes from its exercise ensuring all officers and staff were checked against the Police National Database (PND).
Jul. 20 2023
Source Page: Police vetting: code of practiceFound: Police vetting: code of practice
Jul. 20 2023
Source Page: Police vetting: code of practiceFound: Police vetting: code of practice
May. 23 2024
Source Page: Aftercare information for holders of national security clearanceFound: From: United Kingdom Security Vetting and Cabinet Office Published 11 May 2015 Last updated
Jul. 20 2023
Source Page: Police vetting: code of practiceFound: Police vetting: code of practice
Correspondence Oct. 06 2023
Committee: Criminal Justice CommitteeFound: HMICS Assurance Review of Vetting Policy and Procedures within Police Scotland Letter from the Cabinet
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to The Angiolini Inquiry: Part 1 Report published on 29 February, which territorial and national police forces outsource their recruitment vetting to other police forces or other law enforcement agencies.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
All Home Office (territorial) forces in England and Wales conduct their recruitment vetting internally.
This is also the case for all non-Home Office national police forces, aside from the Royal Military Police who are assisted by Warwickshire Police for vetting checks.
The Part 1 report of Angiolini’s Inquiry highlighted that in 2010, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary had outsourced its force vetting to Thames Valley Police. They now carry out their own recruitment vetting.
Mentions:
1: Viscount Camrose (Con - Excepted Hereditary) for purposes of defence, or indeed for purposes that might be used for defence, would be subject to vetting - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Alex Norris (LAB - Nottingham North) Where do you sit on what is an appropriate vetting regime that is practical and that gives confidence - Speech Link
2: Alex Cunningham (Lab - Stockton North) that if there is a change in force, police vetting takes place. - Speech Link
3: None I am aware that there is a national project to try and increase vetting. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Keir Starmer (Lab - Holborn and St Pancras) Lady Angiolini’s report exposes the appalling failure in police vetting and in misconduct processes, - Speech Link
2: Rishi Sunak (Con - Richmond (Yorks)) That is why we took action quickly to strengthen police vetting and strengthen the rules for rooting - Speech Link
3: Keir Starmer (Lab - Holborn and St Pancras) The Prime Minister mentions vetting and I just want to press him on that, because serious failures in - Speech Link