Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether data is available on the number of police officers waiting for (a) a vetting decision and (b) security clearance to work in roles classified as sensitive.

The Home Office does not hold information on police officers’ level of vetting clearances or number of sensitive posts in each force, or on those officers waiting for clearance. Vetting and recruitment matters are handled independently, and on a case-by-case basis, by each force. Vetting decisions should be made in accordance with the statutory Vetting Code issued by the College of Policing.

The Government does recognise public concern around police vetting and is aware that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary & Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), as part of their inspection which the Home Secretary commissioned after the findings of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP), provided criticisms of the Metropolitan Police Services’ ability to detect whether those occupying sensitive posts had been vetted to the correct level. We expect the MPS and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to take immediate action to address this.

The Home Secretary has separately commissioned HMICFRS to carry out an urgent thematic inspection of vetting and counter-corruption procedures in policing across England and Wales. We expect any recommendations from this to be fully considered by all forces.