What are we looking for?
Here's a bit more detail on some factors that are considered during the vetting process.
Criminal convictions and cautions
All convictions, cautions (including any received as a juvenile), involvement in any criminal investigation and bind-overs imposed by a court must be declared. They don’t automatically mean you’ll be rejected from joining the police service. Each case is looked at on an individual basis. Factors taken into account include:
- Your age at the time of the offence
- How long ago the offence was committed
- The nature of the offence
- Whether there are obvious patterns of repeat behaviour
There's more information on convictions which would result in vetting clearance being declined in the Mandatory rejections section below.
It’s important to be honest. Failure to disclose this information will result in your application being rejected.
Motoring offences
Convictions for minor motoring offences won’t necessarily be a barrier to joining the police service, unless you’re a persistent offender. Each case is considered individually. However, the following offences are most likely to result in vetting clearance being declined:
- Death by careless or dangerous driving
- Recent or multiple dangerous or drink / drug driving offences
HM Forces offences
Convictions received whilst serving in HM Forces aren’t treated any differently from civilian convictions. All criminal offences convicted by a military tribunal are recorded on the Police National Computer so make sure you disclose them – again, honesty is the best policy.
Outstanding charges
If you have an outstanding charge or court summons that could result in a conviction, your application will be postponed until after the outcome of the case. Once that is known, your application will then be considered.
Family and friends
All cautions, investigations or convictions that could be linked to a family member or someone you know must be declared. This won’t automatically hinder your chances of becoming a police officer – each case is reviewed individually. Many factors are taken into account, including:
- The nature of your relationship with the offender
- The number and severity of offences
- Could your role in the police be negatively affected?
- Could it cause damage to the authority or reputation of the police service?
- Could your credibility be impacted?
- Is there a risk of an information breach?