My Partner Has
A Criminal Record
Vetting checks the people closest to you as well as you. A partner with a record is the situation applicants worry about most and it is rarely as simple as yes or no. This guide sets out exactly what the College of Policing's guidance tells vetting units to weigh, the factors that count for and against you and how to deal with it honestly.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
It can, but it is not automatic. The College's guidance assesses third parties case by case, weighing the relationship, your openness, how recent and serious the offending is, any distance between you, financial links, the risk of pressure or a conflict of interest and the potential for information to leak. Declare your partner fully and be open about what you know: non-disclosure counts against you.
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How risky is my history for police vetting?
No typing, nothing saved. See what vetting looks at and what to prepare, from the College of Policing guidance.
What is in your history?
1 of 3Pick the main one. You can add more in the free builder.
The short version
- Not an automatic bar. The July 2026 automatic disqualifications (Police Regulations 2003, reg 10(2A)) are about your own conduct.
- Assessed case by case. "If there is potential risk from third parties, forces must consider these cases on their individual merits" (APP Appendix N 6.1).
- Openness matters. Your openness, or likely awareness, is one of the listed factors.
- You will not be told the detail. Results of checks on family and associates must not be disclosed to you.
Who counts as a third party
The College's guidance lists the people whose information can be assessed (Appendix N 6):
- parents, partners, former or ex-partners, siblings, children;
- extended family and a partner's extended family;
- co-residents and friends;
- an associate known to police, including people with whom you have significant financial arrangements, such as business partners or someone paying child support;
- associates in professions that could create a conflict of interest, such as private investigators, journalists, defence legal teams or people bidding for police contracts.
Third parties are assessed for threat and risk if they have convictions or cautions for recordable offences, or there is intelligence suggesting involvement in criminal activity (Appendix N 6.1).
What vetting weighs
Appendix N 6.1 lists what should be considered:
- the nature of the relationship;
- your openness, or the likelihood of your awareness;
- how recent the police interest was;
- any evidence of distance between you and the third party;
- any financial relationship;
- the likelihood of you coming across them, or handling their information, in your job;
- the likelihood that your duty could be affected, for example through pressure or a conflict of interest;
- the nature, location, number and seriousness of the offences or criminal involvement and the period over which they happened;
- the likelihood of damage to the force's operational capability and the potential for information leakage;
- whether the circumstances are likely to bring discredit to or embarrass the police;
- any impending prosecutions or ongoing investigations that may need monitoring;
- any other factors that could increase susceptibility to corruption or coercion.
Factors for and against clearance
| Factor against granting clearance (APP Appendix N 6.4.1) | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| There is evidence of joint enterprise | You were involved together in the offending |
| The partner's convictions or cautions are serious, recent, operationally significant, committed close to or in the force area and/or linked to wider criminality | Recent, serious offending in the area you would police |
| Intelligence about the partner is reliable, significant, recent and/or could compromise policing, you or police assets | Current, credible intelligence |
| The relationship is close emotionally or socially and/or you live close to each other | A partner you live with is the closest relationship there is |
| There is a financial relationship between you | Joint accounts, a shared mortgage or tenancy, money passing between you |
| Lack of awareness or non-disclosure means risks cannot be discussed openly | You did not declare them, or did not know |
| You have not engaged with the duty to notify changes | A new relationship or new offending not reported |
| Factor supporting clearance (APP Appendix N 6.4.2) | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Evidence of distance between you and the third party | Separate homes, separate finances, limited contact |
| The offences were minor, not recent, not in the force area, not operationally significant and/or there are mitigating circumstances | An old, minor offence elsewhere |
| Intelligence has low reliability, is not recent, is not related to criminality and/or would not compromise policing | Old or weak intelligence |
| You have been open throughout, and/or you were very likely unaware of the activity | Full declaration from the start |
| A reassuring service history (for existing staff) | Good record and prompt reporting of notifiable matters |
Read together, the two lists explain most outcomes. A partner you live with and share money with sits at the close end of every factor, so the seriousness, age and location of their offending carry a lot of weight. An old, minor matter, declared openly, is a very different picture from recent offending in the area you would police.
Clearance with conditions
Refusal is not the only option. The guidance says forces should explore risk mitigation with other departments, for example periodic system auditing, restricting systems access proportionately, geographical or departmental restrictions, a disclosure to the head of department, specific risk management and welfare advice, or exploring options openly with you (Appendix N 6.2). Where clearance is granted with known risks relating to third parties, forces should act under their local notifiable associations policy (6.4). Since July 2026 a candidate can appeal conditions as well as a refusal.
Where more information is needed, the guidance says an exploratory vetting interview should be arranged. Practise the associates questions with our mock vetting interview.
Eight scenarios
Illustrative candidates, not real cases. The force decides each on its own facts.
| Situation | How the factors read |
|---|---|
| Partner has a drink driving conviction from 12 years ago | Minor in vetting terms, old, not linked to criminality: factors mostly in favour if declared |
| Partner served a prison sentence for supplying drugs three years ago, you live together | Serious, recent, close relationship, shared home: several factors against |
| Partner has a caution for shoplifting at 17, now 30 | Minor, old: factors in favour, especially if declared |
| Partner currently under investigation | Ongoing investigation that may require monitoring: likely to weigh against while it continues |
| Ex-partner with a record, no contact for five years | Evidence of distance: in favour |
| Partner's brother has convictions, you rarely see him | Extended family, limited contact: usually less weight |
| You did not know about your partner's record | Unawareness can support clearance; once you know, declare it |
| Joint mortgage with a partner who has recent fraud convictions | Financial relationship plus dishonesty: factors against |
What to declare
- Your partner (and, where the form asks, their details) and everyone who lives with you.
- Anything you know about their record: what, when and the outcome, as far as you know it.
- How you live: shared home, shared money, how often you are together.
- Any steps that show distance, if they are true.
Stick to what you know. Do not investigate your partner's history or ask the police about them. If you are unsure about details, say so. The Vetting Prep Report (£19.99) covers associates in depth, including the questions you may be asked and a factual draft disclosure in your own words.
Who decides and what you are told
The guidance says a decision to decline clearance because of a family member's convictions, intelligence or the applicant's criminal associations "must be made by the FVM or their nominated representative(s)" (the force vetting manager). It adds that "the results of checks on family members and associates must not be disclosed to the vetting applicant", though the force should assess what is in the public domain to allow as full disclosure as possible.
As a police officer candidate you are still entitled to detailed written reasons, subject to the harm test and to appeal on three grounds (Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025, regs 4F and 4G). See the appeal letter template.
After you join
Associations stay relevant. Forces have notifiable associations policies and serving officers must report relevant changes and take part in annual integrity and vetting reviews. A new relationship, or a partner's new offending, must be reported.
What not to do
| Do not | Why |
|---|---|
| Leave your partner or co-residents off the form | Non-disclosure is a factor against clearance in itself |
| Move out or change your relationship just to get through vetting | Vetting looks at the real situation; report genuine changes, do not stage them |
| Use any police contact to look up your partner's record | Misuse of police systems is a serious matter; just declare what you know |
| Minimise their offending | The force will see the record; openness counts in your favour |
Step by step
- List everyone the form asks about: partner, family, co-residents.
- Write down what you know about any record, without investigating.
- Note the facts on distance and money: who lives where, shared accounts, contact.
- Declare everything; answer follow-up questions promptly.
- If refused, read the reasons and decide whether an appeal fits one of the three grounds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I join the police if my partner has a criminal record?
Yes, it is possible. A partner's record is not an automatic bar: the 2026 automatic disqualifications are about your own conduct. The College's guidance assesses third parties case by case, weighing the relationship, how recent and serious the offending is, any financial link and the risk of pressure or information leaking.
Do I have to declare my partner's criminal record?
You must declare your partner on the vetting form and the force checks them. You should be open about anything you know: the College's guidance lists the applicant's openness, or likely awareness, as a factor and non-disclosure counts against you.
Will I fail vetting if my partner is in prison?
Not automatically, but a serious, recent conviction of someone you are close to weighs heavily. The guidance lists serious, recent or operationally significant offending and a close emotional connection as factors against granting clearance. Each case is decided on its own merits.
Does an ex-partner's record matter?
It can. The College's guidance lists former or ex-partners among the third parties who may be assessed. Evidence of distance, such as no contact and no financial links, is a factor in favour.
What about my partner's family?
The guidance includes a partner's extended family among the people who can be third parties. In practice the closer and more recent the link, the more it is likely to matter.
Will the force tell my partner about the checks?
The guidance says the results of checks on family members and associates must not be disclosed to the applicant. We found nothing in it about notifying the third party; ask the force if this worries you.
Will they tell me if my partner is the reason I was refused?
Not the detail of the checks. The guidance says results of checks on family members and associates must not be disclosed, though the force should look at what is in the public domain to allow as full disclosure as possible. As a police officer candidate you are still entitled to detailed reasons subject to the harm test.
Should I end the relationship to pass vetting?
That is your decision, not a vetting requirement and you should never change your circumstances just to hide something. Declare the true position. If circumstances genuinely change, report it.
Can I appeal a refusal because of my partner?
Yes, on the three grounds in regulation 4G. Appeals of this kind often rest on evidence about the relationship (distance, no financial links) or on an error about who the person is.
My partner was arrested but not charged. Does that count?
It can be considered. The College's guidance says crime report allegations relating to third parties should be considered when assessing an applicant's suitability.
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.
- College of Policing: Vetting authorised professional practice (May 2025, PDF) : Appendix N 6 (associations): who counts as a third party; 6.1 assessing threat and risk (factors); 6.2 working strategy and exploratory interview; 6.4 options (notifiable associations policy), 6.4.1 factors against and 6.4.2 factors supporting clearance; decision by the force vetting manager; results of checks on family and associates not disclosed; 6.5.19.c third-party crime allegations (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10 (qualifications for appointment), latest version : reg 10(2A): automatic disqualification concerns the candidate's own conduct (accessed 22 October 2026)
- The Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/502), latest revised text : reg 4F detailed reasons (subject to reg 8(2)); reg 4G appeal; reg 4B(5) report changes (accessed 22 October 2026)
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the College of Policing, the Home Office or any police force and it does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Recruitment standards, assessment formats and vetting decisions are set by the College of Policing and each force and change from time to time: check the force you are applying to before relying on anything here. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 22 October 2026.