Vetting Process

Vetting is the process by where you disclose any information that may affect your suitability to become a police officer. It is essential to provide thorough and precise information, as this will then be reviewed by the force you are applying to. Failure to disclose something during this process may result in a vetting failure, and you not being able to join the police, on the grounds of honesty and integrity. 

To understand the vetting process and decision making that you will apply to you, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the Vetting Code of Practice for all police forces in England and Wales. 

Vetting exists to make sure that those joining and choosing a career as a police officer understand the values and public expectations of policing. It is to ensure that your integrity as you enter policing, and when you are in service, is not called into question.

Vetting will be reviewed at regular points in your career.

Our recruitment officers are here to support you through the vetting process and answer any questions. They may ask you to clarify information you have provided or request additional information. 

If there are any changes in your personal circumstances related to information provided as part of the vetting process, it is your responsibility to highlight these to the force you have applied to and your recruitment officer as soon as possible. 

Vetting guidelines are set by the College of Policing. Police Now cannot influence the guidance or decision-making of the force you are applying to. 

We ask that you are open and honest and declare all investigations, cautions, convictions or interactions with the police, no matter when these took place or how significant they were. Misleading, incomplete or inaccurate information could result in you not being able to join the programme.  

To start initial training, all vetting must be completed. 

Here are some examples of common scenarios that need declaration: 

• My vehicle was pulled over at a police traffic stop, but no formal action was taken.  
• I was questioned by the police once; however, I was not arrested, and no formal action was taken. 
• I received a speeding fine 15 years ago.

 
If in doubt, disclose.

If you are not sure how much detail to provide, then more is always preferable. Common mistakes include not providing enough detail or failing to declare something. This can cause delays and prevent you from joining the programme in time.

If you have any doubts about the relevance of a conviction or caution, include the details anyway, as it important for you to demonstrate honesty throughout the vetting process.

All applicants must complete vetting prior to joining a force, to identify whether they are suitable to become a police officer. The vetting process includes disclosing information about your friends and family, to ensure that you aren’t vulnerable to extortion or blackmail. 

You’ll be asked to provide information on: 

• Yourself (personal, financial, police, criminal history). 
• Your family (parents, parents’ partners, siblings, partner(s), children). 
• Co-residents. 
• Associations that may cause a conflict of interest with your role or the police service. 

Vetting also includes: 

• Background checks across all police information systems on you, your family and other associates i.e. individuals with whom you have significant financial arrangements, such as business partners and those who make child support payments. 
• Credit reference checks. To make sure debt or money problems don’t make you vulnerable to blackmail or corruption or affect your suitability to be a police officer. 
• Social media and open-source checks. These are checks on content about you that is publicly available on the internet, to ensure there’s nothing linked to you that is inappropriate and could undermine public trust and confidence in the police service. 
• If relevant, other government and overseas agency checks. 

You will either be sent your vetting form by your allocated force or given access to your vetting form via your onboarding platform. This process won’t start until you’ve accepted a conditional offer with Police Now for one of our programmes. You should complete your vetting form at the earliest opportunity.  

To prepare, you should start gathering information in advance so, you can complete the vetting form as soon as you receive it, including: 

• Your full address history (current home address, as well as any other addresses in the last five years). 
• Your immediate family’s addresses. 
• Details of your family members (dates of birth, maiden names). 
• Information on the people you live with. 

If your vetting clearance is declined or withdrawn, you will not be able to join the programme. 

You can appeal a vetting decision, please refer to the Vetting Code of Practice for more information.