Police Scotland
Vetting
When vetting happens in the Police Scotland process, what it checks against your application, the published rejection list and finance rules and an honest answer to how long it takes. Written from Police Scotland's own pages and the Scottish regulations.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
Police Scotland does not publish a timescale. Full vetting is one of four final stages (with the medical, a hair-sample substance test and employer references) and happens once you have successfully completed the application process. It confirms everything you told Police Scotland on the form. The Force Vetting Unit may on occasion make an early assessment case by case. Accurate, complete declarations are the one thing you control that avoids delay.
Police Scotland vetting in short
Vetting is the last of Police Scotland's checks on a new officer, not the first. Police Scotland's recruitment page says "vetting checks are carried out once you have successfully completed the application process". Its candidate portal lists full vetting as one of four final stages, alongside a medical with its healthcare provider, a hair-sample substance misuse test and employer references.
What vetting does is confirm. Police Scotland says it is important to be accurate with everything you supply, because "it's all confirmed at the vetting stage". So vetting in Scotland is mostly about whether what you told Police Scotland at the start matches what the checks find at the end and whether anything in your history falls within the published rules for rejection.
- When: at the final stage, after the assessment day.
- Who: Police Scotland's Force Vetting Unit.
- What: the information on your eligibility assessment and main form, your declarations, your finances against the published rules and your history.
- How long: not published by Police Scotland. See the how long it takes section for what we can say honestly.
- Early look: the Force Vetting Unit "may on occasion make an early assessment of vetting suitability", case by case.
If you are at the start, read the full process on our how to join Police Scotland hub and check the published rules with our free eligibility checker before you put months into preparation.
When vetting happens in the Police Scotland process
Police Scotland's own order of stages puts vetting at the end. This table shows every stage and where vetting fits into it, so you can see which earlier answers are later confirmed.
| Stage | What happens | Where vetting fits |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility assessment | Screening questions on age, licence, residence, right to work, tattoos, previous applications and previous police service. | Your answers here are later confirmed at vetting. If you answered wrongly, Police Scotland asks you to email the recruitment team so it can be corrected. |
| Main application form | About you, previous applications and service, tattoos, business interests, statements, 5 years of employment, qualifications, declaration. | The information vetting checks against. Criminal convictions and tattoos must be declared. |
| Police Scotland Entrance Test | 49 questions in 60 minutes across numeracy, literacy and information handling. | Not part of vetting. |
| Fitness assessment | 15-metre bleep test to level 5.4. | Not part of vetting. |
| Assessment day | Group task, situational judgement exercise and a 20-minute interview. | Not part of vetting. |
| Final stages | Medical, hair-sample substance misuse test, employer references and full vetting. | Full vetting happens here, once you have successfully completed the application process. |
| Offer | A formal offer after all stages. | The rejoiner page says the final offer follows vetting clearance. The officer pages do not describe the offer wording. |
Two points follow from this order. First, you will usually have passed the Police Scotland Entrance Test, the fitness test and the assessment day before full vetting starts, so a problem found at vetting comes late and costs you a lot of effort. Second, your answers at the very first stage of the form matter, because they are the answers vetting confirms.
Anything you are unsure about (an old conviction, a debt, a business interest) is better raised at the start than discovered at the end. The early assessment route, where it is offered, exists for exactly this reason.
The Force Vetting Unit's early assessment
Police Scotland's recruitment page says the Force Vetting Unit "may on occasion make an early assessment of vetting suitability". It describes this as case by case. It is not a published service you can book and Police Scotland does not say what triggers it, how you ask for it or how long it takes.
What this tells you in practice:
- If you have something that might be a vetting issue, such as a conviction not on the rejection list, ask the recruitment team whether an early assessment is possible before you invest in the later stages.
- Do not assume an early assessment will be offered. "On occasion" means it is the exception.
- An early assessment is not the same as clearance. Full vetting still happens at the final stage.
Whatever the answer, declare the matter fully on your form. Police Scotland's page says each case "will be considered on its own merits and checks will be made by the vetting unit at the pre-appointment stage".
What Police Scotland vetting checks
Police Scotland does not publish a list of the databases or searches it uses. What it does publish is the information it collects from you and the rules it applies. This table maps one to the other.
| What you told Police Scotland | Where you told it | What vetting does with it |
|---|---|---|
| Age, residence and right to work | Eligibility assessment and About you section | Confirms the details. Applicants who are not UK or EEA nationals must hold indefinite leave to remain or equivalent at the point of application. |
| Driving licence and penalty points | Eligibility assessment | More than 6 points or any drink or drug driving offence means rejection. |
| Criminal convictions | Declarations | Listed offences mean rejection. Everything else is considered on its own merits and checked by the vetting unit at the pre-appointment stage. |
| Tattoos | Eligibility assessment and Tattoos section (description and photos) | Reviewed by a Recruitment Officer. Declaration is required. |
| Previous police applications | Previous applications section | Your earlier applications and the stage you reached. |
| Previous police, special constable or military service | Previous service section | The regulations require proof of good conduct for anyone who has served in a police force, the armed forces or the civil service. |
| Business interests | Business interests section | Applicants must notify the chief constable of any business interest they have or are likely to acquire. |
| Employment for the last 5 years | Employment section | Used for employer references, a separate final stage. |
| Finances | Not a form section in the published example, but on the rejection list | Trust deeds, sequestration, bankruptcy and defaulted accounts of £1,000 or more. |
The legal basis
Regulation 6 of the Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013 sets the qualifications for appointment as a constable. Among other things, a candidate must produce satisfactory character references, with proof of good conduct for anyone who has served in a police force, the armed forces or the civil service. A candidate must also give information about their history. For anyone who is not a UK or EEA national, it requires indefinite leave to enter or remain. Vetting is how Police Scotland satisfies itself on those points before appointment.
What vetting is not
- It is not the medical. Health is checked separately by Police Scotland's healthcare provider. See our medical and substance test guide.
- It is not the substance misuse test, which is a separate hair-sample test at the final stage.
- It is not the reference check, though both use your employment history. See our references guide.
Declarations: what to tell Police Scotland
Police Scotland's recruitment page says you must declare criminal convictions and tattoos. It adds: "Each case will be considered on its own merits and checks will be made by the vetting unit at the pre-appointment stage."
Three practical rules follow from what Police Scotland says:
- Declare everything the form asks for. The offences that mean automatic rejection are listed below. Every other conviction is judged case by case, which is only possible if you declare it.
- Be accurate on the eligibility questions. Police Scotland says your answers are all confirmed at vetting.
- Correct mistakes straight away. If you answered a pre-screening question wrongly, Police Scotland asks you to email the recruitment team so it can be corrected.
Police Scotland's values are fairness, integrity, respect and human rights. A declared matter can be judged on its merits. An undeclared matter found at vetting raises a second question about integrity, on top of the first. This is our reading of why accuracy matters, not a published Police Scotland rule.
For writing a clear disclosure, our free vetting evidence builder helps you set out what happened, when and what has changed since. It is written for UK police vetting in general, so check anything Scotland-specific against this page.
The published rejection list
Police Scotland publishes a page titled "Offences that mean you'll be rejected". It applies if you have been convicted of, or are under investigation for, any of the offences listed. In summary:
| Category | What Police Scotland's offences page lists |
|---|---|
| Death or serious injury | Murder, culpable homicide, manslaughter, causing death by driving, attempted murder, assault to severe injury and variants, GBH, wounding with intent. |
| Offences against the state | Treason, espionage. |
| Liberty and exploitation | Kidnapping, human trafficking, abduction, torture. |
| Sexual offences | Rape, sexual assault, indecent images offences, lewd and libidinous practices, other sexually coercive conduct. |
| Weapons | Firearms or explosives offences. |
| Domestic abuse and stalking | Any domestic violence, controlling or coercive behaviour or stalking offence. |
| Serious or fraudulent dishonesty | Armed robbery, burglary, theft by housebreaking, perverting the course of justice, perjury, corruption. |
| Prison | Any offence as an adult resulting in a prison sentence. |
| Driving | Drink or drug driving, including failing to provide a specimen. More than 6 points on your licence. |
| Orders and registers | Being a registered sex offender, or subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order or Sexual Harm Prevention Order. |
| Finances | Currently in a trust deed or less than 12 months since discharge; previously sequestrated or declared bankrupt and less than 3 years have passed; defaulted accounts totalling £1,000 or more. |
Two features of this list are easy to miss:
- "Under investigation" counts. The rule applies to being under investigation for a listed offence, not only to convictions.
- Any adult prison sentence counts, whatever the offence.
Anything not on the list is not automatic rejection, but it is still considered. Police Scotland says each case is considered on its own merits.
Finance rules: trust deeds, sequestration and defaults
Police Scotland's finance rules are unusually specific. You are rejected if you:
- are "currently in a Trust Deed, or less than 12 months have passed since discharge";
- "have previously been sequestrated, or declared bankrupt and less than 3 years have passed"; or
- "have defaulted accounts totalling £1,000 or more".
Because these are dated rules, you can often work out exactly when they stop applying to you. Our Police Scotland finance and debt rules guide works through examples with dates, including how they fit the current vacancy closing on 31 March 2027.
Ordinary debt such as a loan or credit card you are paying on time is not on Police Scotland's rejection list. Once you are a constable, Schedule 1 to the 2013 Regulations says you must not wilfully refuse or neglect to pay any lawful debt. This is general information, not financial advice.
Business interests
Regulation 5 of the Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013 requires applicants to notify the chief constable of any business interest they have or are likely to acquire. The application form has a section for it. A business interest in the regulations includes:
- any other employment for gain;
- living at premises where a member of your family keeps a shop in Scotland;
- you or a member of your family holding a liquor, betting and gaming or public entertainment licence in Scotland.
Constables need consent to hold a business interest. If you run a side business, have a second job or live with a family member who holds one of these licences, declare it on the form. Declaring it is not the same as being refused: the regulation is about notification and consent.
The rules that apply once you join
Vetting is about your past, but the regulations also set rules for your private life as a constable. Schedule 1 to the 2013 Regulations says you must avoid any activity likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of your duties, or to give the public that impression. In particular:
- you must not take any active part in politics;
- you must not wilfully refuse or neglect to pay any lawful debt.
Police Scotland also says random substance misuse testing may be undertaken at any stage. Thinking about these rules before you apply is part of deciding whether the job fits your life.
How long Police Scotland vetting takes
This is the question most people search for, so here is the straight answer: Police Scotland does not publish how long vetting takes. It does not publish how long the whole recruitment process takes either. Any figure you see quoted elsewhere for Scotland is not from Police Scotland's recruitment pages, which we checked on 22 October 2026.
What we can say from the published process:
- Vetting starts once you have successfully completed the application process, so it sits at the end.
- It runs alongside three other final checks: the medical, the substance misuse test and employer references.
- Police Scotland says its process is "different for each person" and "it's up to you how quickly you complete each step".
- If more than 6 months pass between your fitness test and a start date, you take another fitness test before any formal offer. Long final stages can therefore mean a second bleep test.
And what is likely to slow things down, in general terms (this is our reasoning from what vetting confirms, not a Police Scotland statement):
| What may affect how long your checks take | Why it matters | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Gaps or errors on your form | Vetting confirms what you supplied. A mismatch has to be resolved. | Check dates, addresses and employers before you submit. Correct any mistake by emailing the recruitment team. |
| Late declarations | Police Scotland says everything is confirmed at the vetting stage. | Declare convictions and other matters on the form, not later. |
| Employer references | References are a separate final stage and rely on other people replying. | Give accurate contact details and tell your referees to expect contact. |
| Previous service | Proof of good conduct is needed for police, armed forces or civil service. | Have service dates and numbers ready. |
| Business interests | The chief constable must be notified. | List them fully, including family licences named in the regulations. |
| Final-stage order and scheduling | Medical, substance test, references and vetting all sit at the end. | Respond quickly to every request in your candidate account. |
Our general guide to how long police vetting takes is written for forces in England and Wales. Use it for the general picture only: Police Scotland runs its own process.
How to prepare for Police Scotland vetting
You cannot speed up the Force Vetting Unit, but you can avoid giving it reasons to come back to you. Our suggested checklist, built from what Police Scotland asks on the form:
- Check the hard rules first. Age, three years' UK residence, indefinite leave if you are not a UK or EEA national, a manual licence with 6 points or fewer and no listed offence. The eligibility checker walks through them.
- Work out your finance dates. If you have had a trust deed, sequestration, bankruptcy or defaults, find the exact dates and check them against the rules.
- Write down your last 5 years of employment with exact start and end dates and contact details. The form asks for these for references.
- List previous applications and service, including special constable or military service, with dates.
- List business interests, including family licences named in the regulations.
- Write an honest note of anything to declare. What happened, when, the outcome and what has changed since.
- Keep copies of everything you submit, so later answers match earlier ones.
- Reply quickly to every request in your candidate account during the final stages.
Police Scotland runs recruitment events where its recruitment specialists answer questions. If a matter could be a vetting issue, ask there or ask the recruitment team whether an early assessment is possible.
Your vetting paperwork, item by item
Police Scotland does not publish a document list for vetting. This table is built from what the published application form asks for, so you can gather it before you start rather than chase it at the final stage.
| What to have ready | Why | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of identity, age and right to work | The About you section verifies eligibility | If you are not a UK or EEA national, have your indefinite leave to remain (or equivalent) evidence ready |
| Your addresses over recent years | Residence: Police Scotland asks for at least three years in the UK | Write down move-in and move-out months so dates do not overlap or leave gaps |
| Driving licence details | Eligibility questions and the points rule | Check your points and their dates before you apply |
| Employment for the last 5 years | References and vetting both use it | Exact dates, employer addresses and a contact for each |
| Character referees | Asked for if you have no employment history | Choose people who know you well and can be reached |
| Previous application details | Previous applications section | Dates and the stage you reached |
| Previous service details | Proof of good conduct is needed for police, armed forces or civil service | Service number and dates |
| Business interest details | Regulation 5 notification | Include family licences named in the regulations |
| Finance dates | Trust deed, sequestration, bankruptcy and default rules | Discharge dates and the total of any defaulted accounts |
| A note of anything to declare | Convictions must be declared | What happened, when, outcome, what has changed |
Writing a clear disclosure: a worked example
If you have something to declare that is not on the rejection list, the aim is a short, factual account the vetting unit can check easily. This is an invented example to show the structure. It is not legal advice and it is not a Police Scotland template.
"In March 2019, aged 19, I was convicted of breach of the peace after an argument outside a bar in Perth. I was fined. I have no other convictions. Since then I have worked at the same employer for five years, completed a first aid course and volunteer weekly with a youth football club. I understand why my behaviour that night was wrong and I have not been involved in anything similar since."
Why this works, in our view:
- It gives the facts first: date, age, place, offence, outcome.
- It confirms the whole picture ("no other convictions") so nothing appears to be held back.
- It shows what has changed with things that can be checked, such as employment and volunteering.
- It owns the behaviour without excuses or a long story.
Police Scotland says each case is considered on its own merits. A clear disclosure does not guarantee a decision either way, but it makes your case easy to understand.
If you are refused at vetting
Police Scotland's recruitment pages do not describe an appeal or review process for applicants refused at vetting. What they do say:
- If you fail the pre-screening, you can reapply when you meet the criteria.
- The application form asks previous applicants what they have done to prepare since and how they used any feedback (up to 200 words).
For a dated rule, such as a trust deed discharged less than 12 months ago, the answer is often simply to wait until the date passes. For a case-by-case matter, ask the recruitment team whether feedback is available. Our reapplying after failing guide covers the previous-applicant question and a plan for each stage.
Vetting myths and what the published rules say
| Common claim | What Police Scotland publishes |
|---|---|
| Any conviction means you cannot join | Only the listed offences mean automatic rejection. Others are considered on their own merits. |
| Any debt means you fail vetting | The finance rules name trust deeds, sequestration, bankruptcy and defaulted accounts of £1,000 or more. Ordinary debt you are paying is not on the list. |
| Vetting happens before the entrance test | Full vetting is a final stage, after the assessment day. An early assessment may happen on occasion, case by case. |
| Vetting takes a set number of weeks | Police Scotland does not publish a timescale. |
| There is a home visit | The published final stages are a medical, substance misuse test, employer references and full vetting. No home visit is listed. |
| Points on your licence do not matter | More than 6 points means rejection. Drink or drug driving is automatic rejection. |
| A visa with right to work is enough | Not for applicants who are not UK or EEA nationals: indefinite leave to remain or equivalent is needed at the point of application. |
Common situations, answered from the published rules
Where Police Scotland's pages give a clear rule, we say so. Where they do not, we say that too.
| Situation | What the published rules say |
|---|---|
| I have a caution or conviction for a minor offence not on the list | Declare it. It is not automatic rejection. Police Scotland says each case is considered on its own merits. |
| I am currently under investigation for a listed offence | Rejection. The rule covers being under investigation as well as convicted. |
| I had a short prison sentence as an adult | Rejection. Any offence as an adult resulting in a prison sentence is on the list. |
| I have 7 points on my licence | Rejection. The rule is more than 6 points. |
| I was convicted of failing to provide a specimen | Rejection. Police Scotland lists it with drink or drug driving. |
| I am in a trust deed | Rejection while it is active and until 12 months after discharge. |
| I have two defaulted accounts of £600 and £450 | They total £1,050, which is £1,000 or more, so this is on the rejection list. |
| I have a loan I am paying on time | Not on the rejection list. |
| My partner has a criminal record | Police Scotland's recruitment pages do not say how associates are assessed. Ask the recruitment team. |
| I have a second job | Declare it as a business interest. Constables need consent to hold one. |
| I gave a wrong answer on the eligibility form | Email the recruitment team so it can be corrected, as Police Scotland asks. |
Twelve applicant profiles against the published rules
Invented profiles, not real cases, checked against Police Scotland's eligibility and rejection rules. "Case by case" means the matter is not on the rejection list and Police Scotland says each case is considered on its own merits.
| Profile (invented) | Rule it meets | Result on the published rules |
|---|---|---|
| Age 24, British, fine for breach of the peace at 19 | Not on the rejection list | Case by case: declare it |
| Age 30, 7 points on licence | More than 6 points | Rejected while more than 6 points are on the licence |
| Age 27, 6 points on licence | The rule is more than 6 | Not rejected on points alone |
| Age 35, drink driving conviction 10 years ago | Drink or drug driving | Rejected |
| Age 22, Skilled Worker visa, 4 years in the UK | Indefinite leave needed for non-UK, non-EEA nationals | Not eligible until indefinite leave or equivalent is held |
| Age 29, indefinite leave, 5 years in the UK | At least three years in the UK; indefinite leave held | Meets these rules |
| Age 41, trust deed discharged 14 February 2026 | Trust deed: 12 months from discharge | Clear from 14 February 2027 |
| Age 26, defaults of £600 and £450 | Defaulted accounts totalling £1,000 or more | Rejected on the default rule |
| Age 33, under investigation for a stalking offence | Under investigation for a listed offence | Rejected |
| Age 45, 3-month prison sentence at 21 | Any offence as an adult resulting in a prison sentence | Rejected |
| Age 28, runs a weekend business | Business interest (regulation 5) | Declare it; constables need consent to hold one |
| Age 19, warning at 15 for a breach of the peace | Not on the rejection list | Case by case: declare it if asked |
For each "case by case" profile, Police Scotland's pages do not say what decision follows. Declaring fully and asking about an early assessment are the steps you control.
Prepare this now: a week-by-week start
Our suggested order for getting vetting-ready before you submit. It fits alongside fitness training and PSET practice.
| Week | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the hard rules: age, residence, status, licence and points, the offences list and the finance rules |
| 1 | Order your statutory credit report and add up any defaults |
| 2 | Write out your addresses and employment month by month for the last 5 years |
| 2 | Confirm dates from payslips, contracts, P60s and tenancy documents |
| 3 | Write a short factual note of anything you must declare |
| 3 | List business interests, including family licences named in the regulations |
| 4 | Ask referees and confirm their contact details |
| 4 | Send any questions about unpublished points to the recruitment team |
Vetting for specials, transferees and rejoiners
- Special constables. Police Scotland's special constable recruitment page lists vetting as part of the final stage, as for regular officers. See our special constable guide.
- Transferees. Serving officers from a recognised Home Office force in England or Wales, PSNI or BTP with at least three years' service and no outstanding complaints. The transferee process includes background and reference checks, including Professional Standards and vetting. See transferees and rejoiners.
- Rejoiners. Former Police Scotland officers who completed probation. The rejoiner page lists vetting among the checks and says the final offer follows vetting clearance.
How this compares with England and Wales
Many vetting guides online are written for the 43 forces of England and Wales. The main differences for a Scottish applicant:
- Scottish debt solutions are named. Police Scotland's rules name trust deeds and sequestration, which are Scottish forms of debt arrangement and bankruptcy.
- A specific default threshold. Defaulted accounts totalling £1,000 or more is a published rejection rule.
- Scottish offence names. The list includes culpable homicide, theft by housebreaking and lewd and libidinous practices.
- Different regulations. Appointment rules come from the Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013, not the Police Regulations 2003.
For the wider picture, see Police Scotland vs England and Wales recruitment.
Questions worth asking the recruitment team
Because so much about vetting timing and method is not published, the most useful thing you can do is ask the right questions early. Police Scotland runs recruitment events where its specialists answer questions about the job and the application. Suggested questions:
- "I have a matter to declare that is not on the rejection list. Can the Force Vetting Unit make an early assessment before I sit the PSET?"
- "Does the 3-year sequestration period run from the date of the award or from discharge?"
- "Do defaulted accounts that have since been paid count towards the £1,000 total?"
- "If my final checks run past 6 months from my fitness test, when will the retest be?"
- "What happens if I am refused at vetting: is feedback or a review available?"
Write down the answer, who gave it and the date. If anything changes in your circumstances during the process, tell the recruitment team rather than waiting for vetting to find it.
What we could not verify
Police Scotland's published pages do not state the following, so we have not given figures or rules for them. Ask the recruitment team or check your candidate account.
- How long vetting takes, or how long the whole recruitment process takes.
- Which databases and checks the Force Vetting Unit uses.
- Whether family members, partners or associates are checked and how.
- Whether social media is reviewed.
- How to ask for an early vetting assessment, or what triggers one.
- Whether there is an appeal or review process for applicants refused at vetting.
- Whether the 3-year sequestration or bankruptcy period runs from the award or from discharge.
- Whether satisfied (paid) defaults count towards the £1,000 total and how far back defaults are considered.
- How long vetting clearance remains valid if your start date is delayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Police Scotland vetting take?
Police Scotland does not publish a timescale for vetting or for the recruitment process as a whole. Its pages say vetting checks are carried out once you have successfully completed the application process. Anything that needs extra checking, such as a gap in your history, a conviction you declared or a business interest, is likely to add time, but no official figure exists.
When does vetting happen in the Police Scotland process?
At the end. Police Scotland's candidate portal lists full vetting as one of four final stages alongside the medical, the substance misuse test and employer references. Its recruitment page says vetting checks are carried out once you have successfully completed the application process.
Can Police Scotland check my vetting before I apply?
Not as a routine service. Police Scotland says its Force Vetting Unit may on occasion make an early assessment of vetting suitability, on a case-by-case basis. If you have a matter you are worried about, ask the recruitment team whether an early assessment is possible.
What does Police Scotland vetting check?
It confirms the information you gave throughout the application. Police Scotland says it is important to be accurate because it is all confirmed at the vetting stage. That covers your eligibility answers, convictions, previous applications and service, business interests and your finances against its published rejection rules.
Do I have to declare minor convictions to Police Scotland?
Yes. Police Scotland says you must declare criminal convictions and that each case will be considered on its own merits, with checks made by the vetting unit at the pre-appointment stage. Only the offences on its published list mean automatic rejection.
Will debt stop me passing Police Scotland vetting?
Only in the situations Police Scotland lists: being in a trust deed now or less than 12 months since discharge, having been sequestrated or declared bankrupt with less than 3 years passed, or having defaulted accounts totalling £1,000 or more. Other debts are not on its rejection list, though the regulations later require constables not to wilfully refuse or neglect to pay any lawful debt.
What happens if I made a mistake on my eligibility answers?
Police Scotland asks you to email the recruitment team so the answer can be corrected, rather than leaving it. Because everything is confirmed at vetting, a mistake left uncorrected is more likely to cause a problem later than one you fix now.
Does Police Scotland vetting include a home visit?
Police Scotland's published selection process does not include a home visit. The final stages it lists are a medical, a substance misuse test, employer references and full vetting.
Are penalty points checked at vetting?
Your licence is asked about on the eligibility form and the rules are on the rejection list: more than 6 points means rejection and any drink or drug driving offence, including failing to provide a specimen, is an automatic rejection.
Can I appeal a Police Scotland vetting decision?
Police Scotland's recruitment pages do not describe a vetting appeal process for applicants. Ask the recruitment team or the Force Vetting Unit what review is available if you are refused.
Does a time-limited visa fail vetting?
It fails eligibility before vetting. Police Scotland says applicants who are not UK or EEA nationals must hold indefinite leave to remain or equivalent at the point of application and that time-limited visas do not meet this legal requirement, even with a current right to work.
Do transferees go through vetting?
Yes. Police Scotland's transferee page lists background and reference checks, including Professional Standards and vetting, as part of the transfer process.
Is vetting the same as the reference check?
No. Police Scotland's candidate portal lists employer references and full vetting as two separate final stages. Both draw on the information you gave, including the 5 years of employment history on your form.
Do I need to declare a second job or side business?
Yes. Regulation 5 of the Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013 requires applicants to notify the chief constable of any business interest, which includes any other employment for gain. The application form has a business interests section. Constables need consent to hold one.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 22 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police Scotland: Our recruitment process (police officer) : vetting checks after the application process; Force Vetting Unit early assessment on occasion; declare convictions and tattoos; each case on its own merits; accuracy because everything is confirmed at vetting (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer selection process : full vetting listed as a final stage with the medical, substance misuse test and employer references (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer application example : eligibility screening questions, previous applications and service, business interests, 5 years of employment with reference contacts (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Offences that mean you'll be rejected : offences, driving and finance rules that mean rejection (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Apply to become a police officer : eligibility: age, residence, right to work and indefinite leave, manual licence (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Rejoiners : the final offer follows vetting clearance for rejoiners (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Transferees : transferee checks including Professional Standards and vetting (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Special Constable : special constables also go through vetting (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013, regulation 6 (qualifications for appointment) : references and proof of good conduct, information about your history, indefinite leave rule (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013 (SSI 2013/35), legislation.gov.uk : regulation 5 business interests; Schedule 1 restrictions on private life including lawful debts and politics (accessed 22 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
More for applicants and Scottish officers
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the College of Policing. It does not recruit, test or assess applicants. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not official Police Scotland questions. Police Scotland sets and changes its own selection process, so check its recruitment pages and your candidate account before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 22 October 2026.