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Integrity is one of our key values. We want to make sure that we are hiring the right people that the public can trust. The vetting process will assess your suitability to work for the Met so we can deliver the high standards that Londoners deserve.
We are building a police service that embodies our key values of respect, empathy, courage, accountability, and integrity. We want to ensure that everyone working for us reflects these too.
Through a series of background checks we will identify any areas of vulnerability and possible risks of corruption, criminality, or behaviours that could damage trust and confidence. This process is relatively straightforward and has been put in place to protect the Met, our people, and the communities we serve.
Our vetting unit is committed to providing the highest level of service, ensuring professionalism and discretion at all times. Our vetting charter outlines the standards and behaviours you can expect from us.
As part of your application process, we will ask you to complete a vetting form. If you are applying to become an officer then you will be sent your vetting form after your ‘day two’ assessment has been successfully completed. For all other roles, the form will be shared with you after successful completion of the necessary assessments or interviews.
There will be a range of questions on the vetting form. You will need to provide:
For some roles, we will need details of your finances.
The vetting unit will then review the form, details will be checked against:
If there are any outstanding queries the vetting unit will reach out to you directly.
All checks carried out comply with national guidelines and codes of practice.
Most individuals will not need to do anything before going through the vetting process. However, if any of the below apply to you please make sure you have taken the necessary steps.
If you have had County Court Judgements (CCJs), ensure they have been met or that there is a payment plan showing regular monthly payments being sent.
If you have Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) documents please ensure these are up-to-date and show you are not defaulting on any payment plans in place.
You must declare in the vetting form any:
If you fail to declare any police contact you've had, it's likely that you will not pass the vetting process.
Many people fail the vetting process because they withhold information. This can include information on yourself or others.
Knowingly providing false information, deliberately misleading information, or hiding information could make you look unreliable and dishonest. This could result in your application being refused. The same applies if facts come to light at a later date.
If you have any criminal convictions or cautions, it's possible you can still pass vetting. Each case is considered on an individual basis in relation to the role being undertaken and the level of vetting required.
If you have been the subject of a police investigation or have received a conviction, caution, or other finding of guilt (such as a fixed penalty notice for disorderly conduct), it is not an automatic fail.
But failing to disclose these at the earliest opportunity will lead to us having concerns about your honesty and integrity. That could mean you will fail the vetting process.
If you’ve ever been accused of anything please share the details with us. This includes circumstances where you have been asked questions by an officer who is investigating an allegation. Their questioning may or may not have led to you being arrested or led to any formal action being taken.
If you have been spoken to about an incident, it’s likely that the police have recorded that encounter. We want you to tell us about that incident. No matter how far in your past, the outcome or what police officers said at the time.
We ask you to provide details of any of your family members, friends or people you associate with. This is so that we can assess if their past behaviour could lead to concerns about your vulnerability to corruption.
We will check if they:
Financial checks are used to assess whether you have been, are currently, or are likely to be in financial difficulty. Including any signs of financial irresponsibility to the extent that you could become vulnerable to bribery.
Most people have debt such as mortgages, car loans and credit cards. Commitments in line with your income are fine if you are meeting your payments.
We will not be making an assessment based upon the size of the debt you have, but your ability to manage that debt.
Debts only become a problem where they are large and individuals fail to take action to resolve the situation. Or where they are caused by compulsive behaviour, such as gambling.
If we identify differences between your declaration on the vetting form and the information provided by the credit check, you will be contacted in an attempt to resolve the matter.
Vetting is a comprehensive process. The length of time these checks can take varies from individual to individual but typically it can take around two months. You should not worry if it takes slightly longer than this.
There are some things you can do to help make this process more efficient: