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Force Vetting Unit. Mr Nick Nicklin Force Vetting Coordinator. Purpose of the Vetting Office. To ensure all persons having access to Police Sites and Information are vetted in order to protect our assets
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Force Vetting Unit Mr Nick Nicklin Force Vetting Coordinator
Purpose of the Vetting Office • To ensure all persons having access to Police Sites and Information are vetted in order to protect our assets • They include Police Officers, Police Staff, PCSO’s, Special Constables, Contractors, Agency Workers, Partnerships, SW1 • Our aim is to eliminate security risks to the organisation and give the public confidence in our dealing with them
Different Vetting Levels • The DBS Barring (CRB) • This is controlled and certificates issued by DBS Liverpool • Police Vetting • Police Officer and Police Staff Recruitment Vetting (RV) & Management Vetting (MV) • Non Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) Level 1, 2 and 3 • National Security Vetting • Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) • Security Check (SC) • Developed Vetting (DV) The vetting level depends on the role undertaken not the position or rank the individual has within the organisation.
Vetting Processes Summary Elements: • Receiving of the Application • Checking for Accuracy • Entered in Database • Allocation to Researcher • Research of the Application with Databases • Recommendations and Decisions • Refusals and Reviews • Review Process
Authentication • Authentication, whilst not a formal security clearance, underpins all levels of Police Vetting and National Security Vetting and is carried out by the company • Authentication is used to confirm an individual’s • Identity • Nationality • Employment eligibility • Residency qualification
All named people on the application form Address Check Avon & Somerset area intelligence Police National Computer Police National Database (Intelligence from all Forces) On the applicant (only) Experian Credit Check Research of the application for Police Vetting
National Vetting Policy for the Police Community 2012 (This will change during 2014 to the Codes of Practice to cover the Governments Integrity Programme) Force Policy Recommendations and Decisions
The decision to grant or refuse a vetting clearance is made against a number of criteria which is specified in the National Vetting Policy 2012 The policy takes into account convictions, cautions, and fixed penalty notices. Convictions are never SPENT for police vetting purposes There is an expectation that applicants will answer the questions honestly, as integrity is also important Refusals and Reviews
Appeal & Review Process • Under the National Vetting Policy there is no formal ‘Appeal or Review’ process for people who do not work for the Police • In this Force as best practice if any vetting clearance is refused, we allow the applicant to have the decision reviewed within 14 days • The applicant will be informed of the reason for the refusal, but the Constabulary reserve the right not to inform the applicant of the reason for the refusal, where it could compromise the security of the information or breach legislation
Work load and commitments • Approximately 300/350 applications per month, processed by 4 members of vetting staff • There is a 14 day national agreement to complete vetting checks for other Forces • No in Force service level agreement at present but every effort made to complete checks and give a decision within 21 working days, subject to no ‘out of force’ enquiries
DBS Barring • The DBS Barring are responsible for making barring decisions These decisions are based on information they hold as well as information held by the police
DBS - Referrals • Referrals are made to the DBS when an employer or organisationhas concerns that a person has caused harm, or poses a future risk of harm to vulnerable groups, including children
DBS – PNC(Police National Computer) • On the 29 May 2013 legislation came into force that allows certain old and minor cautions and convictions to no longer be subject to disclosure on a DBS certificate.
DBS –Filtering of Convictions • PNC records which contain more than one conviction will not be eligible to be filtered and all the convictions will be disclosed. • PNC records which have one conviction but contain multiple offences will not be eligible to be filtered and the conviction will be disclosed.
DBS – Filtering of Cautions • Filtering of cautions, warnings and reprimand is slightly different from convictions in that it applies to individual offences rather than an overall conviction.
Useful Links • DBS • https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service • PNC Filtering • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance
Any Questions Nick Nicklin Force Vetting Coordinator Phone: 01275 814665 Email: nick.nicklin@avonandsomerset.police.uk Mail: Police Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8QJ Force Vetting Unit