The Recruitment Threshold
Police vetting for new joiners is the mandatory security and integrity screening process required of every applicant before an offer of employment is finalised. It ensures that those in policing roles meet the high standards of honesty, integrity, and trust required by the public.
The Procedure
Initial Stages and Disclosures
For the majority of new joiners, the process begins with Recruitment Vetting (RV). This level of clearance is designed to verify your identity and residency, and to assess your character.
Applicants are required to provide a complete history of their addresses, financial obligations, and any previous contact with the police—whether as a suspect, witness, or victim. Transparency at this stage is the most critical factor in a successful application.
Background and Intelligence Checks
Once the initial forms are submitted, the vetting unit carries out extensive searches across local and national police databases. These checks are not merely for criminal convictions but for any information that might suggest a risk to the organisation's integrity or security.
Criminal History
Verification of convictions, cautions, and police intelligence reports.
Associations
Checks on family members and known associates for criminal or extremist links.
Financial Vulnerability Assessment
Vetting includes an assessment of your financial history. This is not about wealth, but about vulnerability. The police service must ensure that its members are not in such significant financial distress that they could be susceptible to bribery, corruption, or external pressure. High levels of debt or unresolved CCJs/IVAs are the primary focuses of this assessment.
Common Delays and Timelines
The time taken for vetting can vary significantly between forces and individual applicants. Delays often occur if an applicant has lived abroad, has complex financial arrangements, or has multiple family members who also require checking.
Check your vetting stage details →Reassurance for Applicants
It is common for applicants to feel anxious during the vetting period, particularly if it lasts several months. It is important to remember that vetting is a standard institutional safeguard. A delay does not imply a negative outcome; it simply means that the thoroughness of the check is being maintained.