Mentions:
1: Baroness Thornton (Lab - Life peer) The recommendations that Lady Elish Angiolini makes about vetting are what an ordinary recruitment agency - Speech Link
2: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con - Life peer) aware, in early 2023 we asked the College of Policing to update the statutory code of practice for vetting - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) processes and is underpinned by the new statutory code of practice for vetting, strengthened by the - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: James Cleverly (Con - Braintree) Lady Elish identified significant and repeated problems in recruitment and vetting throughout Couzens - Speech Link
2: Yvette Cooper (Lab - Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) The Government have been repeatedly warned about failures around vetting and misconduct. - Speech Link
3: Kirsten Oswald (SNP - East Renfrewshire) The Home Secretary spoke about vetting. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: James Cleverly (Con - Braintree) policing response to sexual offences, such as indecent exposure, to strengthen police recruitment and vetting - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Jess Phillips (Lab - Birmingham, Yardley) If the vetting has to be ongoing, where is that written into primary legislation? - Speech Link
2: Chris Philp (Con - Croydon South) Maintaining vetting throughout an officer’s career rather than just at the beginning of it is set out - Speech Link
3: Jess Phillips (Lab - Birmingham, Yardley) The amendment would require such information to be considered during the vetting process.My hon. - Speech Link
4: Alex Norris (LAB - Nottingham North) period moot, because vetting would be up to date. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: None This is not a blank canvas for the chief constable to dismiss people who cannot sustain their vetting - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Nicoll, Audrey (SNP - Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) There have also been high-profile cases involving complaints and matters such as vetting, such as the - Speech Link
2: None The vetting process is important, but my report recommends that there should also be random vetting thereafter - Speech Link
3: None As I mentioned, I think that randomised vetting is important, not just vetting at the beginning, because - Speech Link
4: None That is why the vetting is absolutely critical. - Speech Link
5: Dowey, Sharon (Con - South Scotland) You mentioned random vetting and the power for summary dismissal. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Nicoll, Audrey (SNP - Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) It is on vetting, which we have not covered yet.We are aware that the HMICS assurance review of vetting - Speech Link
2: None I know, and Chief Superintendent Harrison knows, how important vetting is. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) It has done one on vetting, and we spoke earlier about the one on organisational culture. - Speech Link
2: Clark, Katy (Lab - West Scotland) is strong enough, and what more could be done to ensure that there is an on-going focus on vetting as - Speech Link
3: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) If we want the public to continue to have confidence in policing, it is vital that we have robust vetting - Speech Link
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to hold chief officers of police to account for the appropriate vetting of adverse information on police recruits regarding (1) security, (2) public safety, and (3) the confidence of the community.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Police forces carry out their vetting independently of government and in line with the College of Policing’s vetting code of practice and vetting authorised professional practice (APP) guidance, which are both continually reviewed. The code sets out the role that a thorough and effective vetting regime has in helping to ensure public trust and confidence in those working in policing.
The College’s most recent code, published in July 2023, sets out how adverse information should be considered in vetting decisions, as well as provides a number of requirements on chief officers, including the need to assess the risks posed by the individual undergoing vetting both to the public and the police service.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) hold forces to account by routinely carry out independent inspections of forces’ effectiveness and efficiency, which include assessments on vetting. The inspectorate has recently set up a new rolling inspection programme on integrity which will look at the work of professional standards units alongside force vetting and counter-corruption arrangements.
The government is supporting policing by creating a statutory requirement for officers to hold and maintain vetting clearance, as well as creating a new set of regulations which will govern how those who fail vetting can be dismissed. In January this year, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) also published outcomes from its exercise ensuring all officers and staff were checked against the Police National Database (PND).