Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of vetting of police staff.

All police forces in England and Wales carry out their vetting, for both officers and staff, in accordance with the College of Policing’s vetting code of practice and vetting authorised professional practice (APP) guidance. The Home Secretary has asked the College of Policing to strengthen its vetting code in order to make the obligations all Chiefs must have due regard to stricter and clearer. This will be laid in Parliament following standard approval processes.

On 11 May, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published findings of the Home Secretary commissioned rapid review of forces’ progress against its November 2022 vetting, misconduct and misogyny inspection. This included a review of vetting decision-making in cases which contained adverse information, involving both police officers and staff. The report highlighted that progress is being made but forces must continue to demonstrate their commitment to strengthening vetting processes.