Non Police Personnel Vetting Clearance

H3 is the partnership formed between Hampshire County Council (HCC), Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) and Hampshire Constabulary (HC). Staff across all three organisations are now working together within a number of different business areas to provide services to HCC, HC, HFRS and other partner organisations.

A fundamental part of joint working is ensuring that information is shared between business areas to allow for an effective operational function. As such individuals will have access to personal data and other information from the organisations they serve that may be sensitive.

Hampshire Constabulary is at risk from various threat groups which look to benefit from accessing their information be that organised crime, extremists or others who would obtain an advantage in having such access.

Therefore, to protect this information the police service carry out ‘vetting checks’ with the view to minimising the risk of sensitive information being misused. The vetting process involves various checks against a number of police systems with a view to assessing whether the individual poses an unmanageable risk to access police systems.

The role conditionally offered to you has been deemed by senior management of Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue, as having access to sensitive information and as such requires vetting using the Non Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV Level 2) form. The vetting process is entirely confidential.

Guidance on the vetting process, including FAQs is enclosed. You can complete the form online or in a hard copy.

If you have any queries then please contact the Police Security Vetting Unit (PSVU) by telephone on 01962 834634 or by e-mail

This document contains the pre-employment assessment criteria to be applied to all new recruits who require Non Police Personnel Vetting Clearance. It is to be used as guidance, it is important to note that while a new recruit is unlikely to be given vetting clearance with such offences or vulnerabilities other factors such as criminal association or the details of other offences or dealings with the police which seriously questions their suitability may still result in refusal.

Criminal Convictions or Cautions

For vetting purposes, the term ‘caution’ includes reprimands, formal warnings and final warnings or any other formal action taken by the police including Fixed Penalty Notices/Penalty Notices for Disorder etc.

Applicants will not receive police clearance if they have been convicted or cautioned for any of the following offences:

  • Any conviction which has led to a prison sentence
  • Convictions or cautions for offences such as:
  • Treason
  • Murder
  • Manslaughter/Culpable Homicide
  • Rape
  • Kidnapping/Abduction
  • Incest/Intercourse with a minor under 16
  • Buggery/Sodomy with a person under 16 or a person who has not consented
  • Offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 punishable by life or more than ten years imprisonment (replaces the 1956 Act and includes rape, prostitution)
  • Hostage taking, hi-jacking or torture
  • Involvement in espionage, terrorism, sabotage or any actions to overthrow/undermine parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means or association (past or present) with any organisation advocating such activities

Applicants will not normally receive police clearance if they have been convicted or cautioned for any of the following offences unless there are exceptionally compelling circumstances. This might include consideration of time elapsed for historical offences of a relatively minor nature.

  • Any driving offences involving “causing death by”
  • Firearms offences
  • Any monitored hate crime (as defined by the APCO Practice Guide)
  • Domestic Violence offences
  • Violent offences to police personnel
  • Violence offences towards others (eg ABH /GBH/Battery)
  • Unlawful possession of weapons, firearms or going equipped to steal
  • Any sexual offence involving a child (under 18 within the meaning of the Sexual Offences Act 2003)
  • Making or possession of indecent images of children
  • Gross indecency
  • Acts of indecency
  • Abuse or neglect of children
  • Public order offences – involvement in riot, violent disorder, affray, causing fear or provocation of violence
  • Dishonesty related offences including but not exclusively: -
  • Interference with the Administration of Justice or investigation of offences
  • Offences which involve elements or acts of dishonesty, corruption, financial gain or loss to anyone including theft, fraud and deception
  • Burglary/theft by housebreaking
  • Drugs/driving offences
  • Involvement in drugs including possession of a Class A drug (heroin, morphine) or more than one Class B drug (amphetamines, cannabis) and/or supplying drugs of any kind
  • Breaches of Data Protection Act
  • Misconduct in Public Office
  • Breaches of the Official Secrets Act

Other factors

  • Dismissal from the police service
  • Resignation from the police service while under investigation

Financial Assessment (applicable to new recruits only and not to existing employees)

It is commonly understood that an individual’s financial status can significantly increase their vulnerability to coercion or corruption. The purpose of conducting financial checks is to assess the vetting subject financial position to ensure that they are either suitably supported if they join Hampshire County Councilif financial difficulties have been recognised or if the financial vulnerability is such that it is deemed to pose too much of a risk the guidance featured below should be used.

The emphasis will always be placed on assessing whether the debt is manageable. As a result the presence of defaults on core costs such as mortgage, utility bills etc. will be seen as an unmanageable debt and may result in refusal. Equally the presence of pay day loans indicates an inability to cover monthly costs which may also be considered as having unmanageable debt.

However, debts such as those featured below will act as a barrier to being granted Non Police Personnel Vetting Clearance

  • Existing bankruptcy
  • Outstanding County Court Judgements
  • Current mortgage arrears defaults on rental agreements

Current and regular use of pay day loans

Frequently Asked Questions

The below Frequently Asked questions should address many of the issues that commonly arise if you or your staff are required to participate in the police vetting process. If any matters are not addressed here please contact the Hampshire Constabulary Personnel Security Vetting Unit on 01962 834634 or

What assessment is applied to the vetting process?

The process involves various checks against a number of police systems with a view to assessing whether you pose an unmanageable risk to access police systems. As a result convictions or cautions which would usually result in a police clearance being refused such as shoplifting etc will not be considered an unmanageable risk for H3 working. It is only in extreme cases where a risk would be considered unmanageable such as active engagement or associations with Organised Crime or Extremist Groups or a clear disgruntlement towards the police which may result in information being unlawfully disclosed to others.

The focus of the process is to provide a level of assurance to access police information which has been deemed necessary to attract police vetting. Therefore, in the event that the clearance is given it can not be transferred to other police roles or other functions outside of the H3 partnership working.

What legal basis is there for this and who’s agreed to it?

The vetting process is in compliance with Articles 1, 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The aim is to ensure that checks are carried out in a proportionate manner, only insofar as is necessary to safeguard the Force’s intelligence, financial and operational assets and Government national security assets. Specifically the vetting process is based on the ACPO National Vetting Policy (NVP) which has received legal approval.

Your requirement to participate in the process is directly driven by the fact that your role has been deemed by senior management of Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue as needing access to police information which is considered ‘sensitive’ / or access to Hampshire Constabulary network.

What checks are done on who and why?

The primary aim of the vetting process is to provide evidential proof that a person does not pose a direct and unmanageable risk to access police information.

To achieve this assurance they are asked a series of questions relating to: previous convictions; criminal associations; financial status; connections with or involvement in extremism; and other characteristics which may affect the vetting process. Such questions provide the opportunity to declare potential vulnerabilities with the aim of managing any perceived risk.

Can I fail the vetting process?

Yes – Although this is highly unlikely. However, if your personal circumstances are such that they present a direct and unmanageable risk for you to have access to police sensitive information your clearance may be refused. If you have already taken up your role, redeployment into a role which does not require police vetting will be considered, however lack of clearance could ultimately lead to dismissal

What would happen if I fail to comply with the process?

Each case would need to be assessed on its own merits but it is assumed that if you have been given this document your role has been selected as requiring police vetting. Every effort will be made to relay any fears you may have over the process and you will be given the opportunity to meet a member of the PSVU in confidence to discuss your concerns if this would help. While no one can force you to take part in the vetting process, if you chose not to, withdrawal of an offer of the employment made to you or a redeployment into a role which does not require police vetting will be considered, however lack of clearance could ultimately lead to dismissal or a withdrawal of the offer of employment.

Summary of the checks conducted

Police National Computer (PNC)

Why? A key assessment is whether you have ever been involved in criminal activity which has led to a formal conviction or caution. While the impact of such an offence will lessen over time, active or persistent involvement in criminality or the presence of offences which suggest involvement in serious organised crime or a term of imprisonment, may cast a doubt on your suitability to be security cleared and may constitute a direct and unmanageable risk to be given the required clearance. The presence of lesser / historical offences will not normally act as a barrier to your clearance being issued.

Local / National Intelligence records

Why? The Police hold intelligence on individuals who are thought to be or have been engaged in criminality. If this intelligence suggests active involvement in criminality or an association with serious organised crime it is possible that this could present a direct and unmanageable risk However, the fact that the information is only of intelligence value will be assessed and considered. The presence of minor / historical intelligence will not normally present an unmanageable risk to being awarded the clearance.

Open Source Research

Why?The popularity of social networking sites has led to more personal information being available on the internet than ever before. It is important that vetted individuals are not susceptible to approach over their social networking accounts or do not pose a direct risk of providing sensitive information on line. Therefore to reduce this potential vulnerability an open source check is completed.

PSVU will only conduct open source research and will not attempt to bypass any security settings as the primary aim is to ensure that you maintain control over your personal information online.

Financial checks

Why? It is commonly understood that an individual’s financial situation can increase

the susceptibility to coercion; equally unexplained affluence can indicate improper

behaviour. However, having general debts is common and it is highly unlikely that you will be refused security clearance based on your financial position alone, there must be a clear an unmanageable risk presented by the vetting record and it is expected that in most financial circumstances the risk can be managed.

The check itself is a simple credit reference check and will not in any way adversely affect your credit score as it will not be viewable by credit agencies / banks etc. The results of the check will provide details around any Bankruptcy, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA), County Court Judgements (CCJ), defaults on accounts and pay day loans.

In cases where the financial position is considered extremely difficult, you may be approached by the PSVU to signpost suitable support.

Family member checks

Why? Police Forces throughout the UK are at risk from Organised Crime Groups, Extremists and disgruntled members of the public who actively seek to identify those who work for the police or who have access to police information. History tells us that an individuals who have ‘criminal associations’ within their family are at more risk of being exploited. Therefore, checks are completed across family members to ascertain whether such a risk exists.

If you are aware or reasonably believe that a member of your family, or an associate, is involved in organised crime or extremism then declare them under the criminal association section. This will allow for an open transparent dialogue with the PSVU to identify what the potential risk is and how that risk can be managed.

However, it is fairly common for people not to know that a member of their family is involved in such activity and while this can make managing the risk quite a challenge, as we will not be able to disclose the details of the association with you. In such cases behind the scenes the potential risk will be carefully considered and wherever possible a risk management strategy will be put in place to minimise the opportunity of you being exploited. As a result it is absolutely fundamental that if any disclosures are made with regards to such connections or, checks identify that you are potentially at risk, you are given appropriate support and advice to assist in managing such a risk.

Finally

If you have any questions that relate specifically to your circumstances please feel free to contact us in confidence on 01962 834634 or

Non Police Personnel Vetting Clearance Assessment criteria new recruits 2015-02-20.docx