Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many police officers in England and Wales have been recruited in each of the past five years without proper references being obtained prior to their employment.

The Government expects all forces to uphold the highest standards in recruitment so that only those fit to serve as police officers are appointed.

All candidates for appointment as a police officer should meet the standards set by the College of Policing. The Home Office does not hold data related to candidate references as this element of the end-to-end recruitment process is managed locally by forces.

The Government has committed to delivering stronger vetting standards, placed on a legislative footing, by the end of the year.