Vetting completion times broken down by ethnicity

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.035042

I note you seek access to the following information:

Please could I request data on the vetting completion times for members of your police force broken down by ethnicity.

Clarification -
We are in the process of attempting to answer your request for information. Can you confirm the following information please?

1. I have assumed your request concerns police officers, staff and contractors. Is this assumption correct?

2. I have assumed your request seeks a total for calendar years, broken down by year? Is this assumption also correct?”

You responded to my email and stated:
“Yes correct - and I would like the figures to be for vetting new staff please.”

I wrote to you and explained that the MPS was unable to comply with your request for information within the 18-hour research/cost limit of the Act. I also stated the following:

“Additionally, the MPS has collated the individual vetting completion times for police officers, police staff and contractors, as recorded on the Met’s current vetting system (CycVetting). This information can accordingly be considered for release to you. Should you wish to refine your request as proposed above, please email or contact me at the postal address at the top of this notice”

You wrote to me and asked the following:
Hello, are you able to advise how to modify this request to fit within the 18 hour limit please - or provide what information you can within the 18 hours”

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

CONTEXT
An effective vetting process is central to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards in policing and is crucial in ensuring that public trust and confidence in the police is maintained. Our Vetting Unit is responsible for the delivery of an effective vetting regime on behalf of the MPS and follows national guidance when assessing the suitability of individuals to work for, and alongside, policing. The vetting of each applicant is considered on a ‘case by case’ basis. This means that some cases will take longer than others to be concluded. Our priority is to ensure that only suitable candidates are employed to work within and alongside policing.

DUTY TO ADVISE AND ASSIST
Under Section 16 of the Act, there is a duty to advise and assist those that have made, or intend to make, a request for information. In accordance with this duty, I can confirm that the MPS publishes information about various types of crime on its website. I have provided a link to this information below.

MPS Website: Stats and Data

It may also assist you to note that the MPS proactively publishes all disclosures made in response to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on its Publication Scheme. I have provided a link to this section of the MPS website below.

MPS Website: Publication Scheme

The MPS Publication Scheme can be searched using keywords and may accordingly hold other information that is of interest to you.