Legal and Professional Standards Department - Vetting (P04a)

1. Summary of changes

1.1. This is a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which has first been published in January 2026 and removes the following SOPs under Policy P04 vetting:

• P04b Recruitment vetting
• P04c Management vetting
• P04d Non-police personnel vetting
• P04e National security vetting
• P04g Aftercare and renewal
• P04h Transferees and rejoiners
• P04i Other force checks
• P04j Taint
• P04k Residency criteria

2. What this procedure is about

2.1 Kent Police Vetting is conducted in accordance with Vetting Code of Practice (VCOP) and associated Vetting Authorised Professional Practice (APP). Giving due regard to The Angiolini Inquiry and The Baroness Casey Report. The force does not deviate from either VCOP or APP and therefore this SOP merely outlines the processes that are carried out in Kent in addition to this. It is a requirement that all members of Kent Police hold appropriate levels of vetting to ensure we provide a high-quality policing service, delivered with absolute integrity. 

Compliance with this SO, VCOP, APP and any governing policy is mandatory.

3. Detail the procedure

3.1. Recruitment vetting

3.1.1 Final candidate checkpoint - All police officer, special constable and PCSO applicants will have a final candidate checkpoint prior to appointment, and this provides them with an opportunity to update the personal information provided in their application and vetting forms.  Vetting decisions will then be made following any additional enquiries resulting from additional information provided by the candidates.

3.1.2 Finances - The force has an Unmanageable debt policy SOP P02h - Unmanageable Debt for officers and staff, which provides guidance to individuals in respect of unmanageable debt whilst ensuring that the integrity, reputation and security of Kent Police is maintained and protected. Also recognising it is a welfare issue.

3.1.3 Incompatible roles -There are several jobs that are considered incompatible with the role of Special Constable:

• Serving members of HM Armed Forces
• Members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
• Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
• The National Hospital Service Reserve
• Members of the fire service, unless written permission is given by their Chief Officer.
• Traffic Wardens and School Crossing Patrols
• Members of employers’ police forces and private constabularies
• Magistrates
• Clerks to justices and clerks to courts
• Probation officers
• Youth workers and social workers involved in the administration of criminal law
• Bailiffs, warrant officers, private detectives and inquiry agents
• Custody escort officers
• Security personnel, guards and doormen
• Anyone working for a security company
• Employees of security organisations
• Neighbourhood and Street Wardens and other uniformed Patrol Wardens
• Police Community Support Officers
• Prison custody officers (Prison Officers are eligible, but only with written permission from their Prison Governor)
• A local authority parking warden
• Persons taking an active part in politics
• Highways Agency Traffic Officers (and traffic officers who are employed by other organisations, such as Vehicle and Operators Services Agency)
• Border and Immigration officers with powers of arrest
• Customs Officers
• Barristers, Solicitors and Judges
• Members of Police Authorities
• Transport Network Revenue Protection Inspectors
• Local Authority field officers e.g.: trading standards officers
• Civilian enforcement officers
• Vehicle removal officer

If applicants start a job in any of the above occupations at any point during their application, or if there are any changes in any of the information they provide in their application, The Vetting Unit must be updated immediately.

3.1.4 Special Constables must update the Vetting Unit with any change of employment.

3.2 Management vetting (MV)

3.2.1 Where Occupational Health (OH) advise that employment in MV posts could present a risk to confidentiality or an information security risk, OH will notify the Vetting Unit and advise the post holder to notify their line management.

3.3 Non-police personal vetting (NPPV)

3.3.1 Warwickshire Police administer the National Contractor Vetting Scheme on behalf of all UK police forces. Contractors who work across a number of forces are vetted to the required level in accordance with the Vetting Code of Practice and APP Vetting. A database containing a full list of companies participating in the scheme and details of members of their staff who have received NPPV clearance, is available to all forces, accessible by the Central Vetting Unit.

3.3.2 In order to appropriately share information with our Kent Resilience Forum partners, in the event of an emergency and/or counter terrorist incident, and to enable representation at the Strategic Co-Ordinating Group, Kent Police will facilitate vetting to Security Check (SC) level for personnel at director/executive level of the category 1 responder group (as indicated in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004). Where necessary, this may also include their key advisers. This facility will only be made available when the relevant agencies do not have the ability to carry out the appropriate vetting procedures for themselves. The process will be co-ordinated through the Head of Emergency Planning, Kent Police.

3.4 National security vetting

3.4.1 Kent Police applies (Counter Terrorist Check) CTC clearance to all police officers, members of the Special Constabulary and PCSOs.  In addition, police staff and non-police personnel whose work involves proximity to public figures who are assessed to be at particular risk from terrorist attack, or who have access to premises, information or material assessed to be of value to terrorists, are also subject to CTC clearance. 

3.5 Aftercare and renewal

3.5.1 The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty upon specified authorities (which includes the police) to ensure that their functions are discharged having due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. Our staff are not immune from radicalisation, therefore if such concerns regarding an individual or institution are identified, these should be referred to the Kent Police Prevent Team via the FIMU at CT Border Policing (Folkestone).

4. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

4.1 EIA - January 2026.

5. Risk assessment

5.1 This SOP has been assessed as medium risk.

6. Consultation

• Central Vetting Unit
• Human Resources
• Legal
• Unison
• Finance
• Information Security
• Estates
• Health and Safety
• Professional Standards Department
• Freedom of Information
• Data Protection
• Risk
• Diversity and Inclusion Academy
• Divisional Commanders
• Supts Association
• Federation

7. Monitoring and review

7.1 This SOP will be monitored, and reviewed after two years, by the force vetting manager. The monitoring will take into consideration any changes in relevant legislation or procedures impacting on vetting aftercare and renewals. 

8. Other source documents

• Vetting Code of Practice - College of Policing
• Vetting authorised professional practice
• The Angiolini Inquiry – Part 1 report
• Baroness Casey Review final report

9. Security

9.1 Kent Police has measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

10. Retention and disposal of records

10.1 Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).