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Free Vetting Tool

Mock Vetting
Interview

If the vetting unit asks to see you, it wants to clear up something in your forms. Practise the questions it may ask in the areas that apply to you, then see what the interviewer is assessing and how to answer honestly. Free, with nothing saved.

Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated

Short answer: how do I prepare for a police vetting interview?

Re-read the forms you submitted, gather the documents behind your answers and practise explaining each matter factually: what happened, when, what you did and what has changed. The College's guidance says interviews are not adversarial, that absolute honesty is required and that raising a concern does not necessarily mean refusal.

Free practice

Mock vetting interview

Pick the areas that apply to you, then answer each question out loud or in the box. After each one, see what the interviewer is assessing and how to answer honestly. Nothing you type is saved or sent.

Areas to practise
Contents
How to Use ItThe AreasAnswering HonestlyWhat It Is Not FAQs Sources

How to use it

  1. Choose the areas that apply to you. Opening and changes apply to everyone.
  2. Read each question and answer it out loud, as you would in the room, or type in the box.
  3. Then open "What are they looking for?" and compare. Did you give dates? Did you own your part? Did you guess?
  4. Note anything you could not answer precisely and find the document that settles it before the real interview.

The areas and where they come from

Mock vetting interview question bank
AreaPractice questionsBased on
Opening: your forms3Vetting APP Appendix L (commencing the interview)
Arrests, cautions and convictions4Vetting APP 6.5.19.b; Appendix N 2
Something left off the form2Vetting APP 8.5.5.b
Finances5Vetting APP Appendix N 4.2
Family, partners and associates4Vetting APP Appendix N 6.1
Lifestyle: drugs, alcohol, travel3Vetting APP Appendix L (areas: lifestyle)
Online content2Vetting APP 6.5.7; Appendix N 5
Conflicts of interest2Vetting APP Appendix L (areas: conflicts of interest)
Changes since you applied2Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 reg 4B(5); Vetting APP 3.10

Answering honestly: five principles

  • Facts in order. When, where, what happened, the outcome.
  • Consistency. Your answer must match your form and the records. If the form was wrong, say so.
  • Own your part. Vetting does not reinvestigate the original matter, so arguing it does not help.
  • Say when you do not know. Offer to check rather than guess.
  • Do not decline to discuss. The guidance says refusing to discuss a relevant matter will likely lead to clearance being declined.
What the interviewer is told

The College tells interviewers to make clear that absolute honesty is required and also to explain that providing information that may cause concern does not necessarily mean the application will be declined.

What this tool is not

It is practice, not a prediction or legal advice. The questions are not an official list. Your real interview will focus on the specific points in your file.

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Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What questions are asked at a police vetting interview?

The College of Policing's guidance lists areas an exploratory vetting interview may cover: your career, relationships, personal circumstances, lifestyle (such as travel, drugs and alcohol), criminal activity, personal beliefs, conflicts of interest and finances. Questions should focus on what is linked to the decision. This tool gives practice questions in each area.

Are these the real vetting interview questions?

No. They are our own wording of the kinds of question the College's guidance describes, each linked to the section it comes from. No official list of vetting interview questions is published.

Is what I type saved?

No. The answer box is for your own practice; it is cleared when you move to the next question and is never sent anywhere.

Should I memorise answers?

No. The guidance values openness and interviewers compare what you say with your form and police records. Prepare the facts and documents, not a script.

How do I get questions for my own situation?

The Vetting Prep Report (£19.99) writes likely questions for the exact areas you describe, with how to approach each honestly and the documents to gather. The overview in the evidence builder is free.

Evidence

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.

  1. College of Policing: Vetting authorised professional practice (May 2025, PDF) : Appendix L (areas an exploratory interview may cover, opening the interview, honesty, declining to discuss, support), 8.5.5.b (non-disclosure), 8.5.6 (exploratory interviews), Appendix N 4.2 (finance topics), Appendix N 6 (third parties), 6.5.19 (crime allegations), 6.5.7 (social media) (accessed 22 October 2026)
  2. The Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/502), latest revised text : reg 4B(5): report changes promptly while your application is open (accessed 22 October 2026)
Related Guides

On this topic elsewhere

The Police Vetting Interview → What happens and how to prepare. Vetting Evidence Builder → Organise your areas for free. Disqualification Checker → The 2026 rules applied to your record. Debt Rules by Force → If finances are the question.
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Start here Candidates hub Everything for police applicants: eligibility, the application, the assessment centre, interviews, fitness and vetting. Start here Entry requirements Every legal and national requirement to become a constable, including the two 2026 rule changes. Eligibility Police age limit Apply at 17, appointed at 18, no upper limit in the regulations; what 57 and 60 really mean. Eligibility Qualifications needed Level 3 or accepted experience for PCDA and PCEP, a degree for DHEP and the GCSE rules. Eligibility Nationality and residency UK, EEA or indefinite leave; settled status; the three-year residency rule and its exceptions. Eligibility Tattoos and appearance The national tattoo test, force policies and what to do if unsure. Eligibility Medical conditions Asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, hearing and BMI: the Home Office standards and how the medical works. Eligibility Mental health and neurodiversity What the standards say, the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments in the assessments. Application Application form guide The national application form, history and declarations and applying to several forces. Application Rejected and reapplying Stage by stage: appeals, resit limits and when you can apply again. Decision Officer vs PCSO vs special Powers, pay, hours, entry and progression compared, to help you choose. Online assessment After the OAC How results arrive, what the feedback report shows and the force interview and checks that follow a pass. Online assessment Tech and adjustments Devices, browsers, the no-second-device rule, what to do if tech fails and the OAC extra time table. Framework CVF explained The three values, six competencies, levels 1 to 3, what changed from 2016 and which exercise assesses what. 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Eligibility From the armed forces Eligibility, applying while serving, resettlement timing, references, pay and pension. Decision Career change The pay drop, the recruitment wait, the right route and the pension for later joiners. Pay Starting salary 2026 Point 1 and point 2 from 1 September 2026, take-home and London and South East pay. Force Met requirements Who can apply to the Met: age, residence, qualifications by route, tattoos and pay. Offer stage Pre-employment checks References, medical, fitness, biometrics, drug test and vetting after an offer. Offer stage Police references Five years of history, your current employer, gaps and referees for time abroad. Offer stage Biometrics and drug test Fingerprints and DNA for recruits, what they are checked against and drug testing. Routes DCEP explained The detective entry route force by force, the NIE, PIP2 and pay.
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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.