Report calls for reforms in police vetting process

VON and Somerset Police recruited officers who had criminal records or cautions, government inspectors found.

- ADAM POSTANS Local Democracy Reporter

A report published today by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that the force needed to improve inspections assessing the effectiveness of vetting, professional standards and counter-corruption arrangements.

The inspectors said that of 37 cases it investigated on vetting new recruits over the last three years, the force did not “consider identified risks or relevant risk mitigations” for 10 of them.

In one of these cases, the individual posed what were described as “several significant corruption risks”.

The inspection found that the vetting unit's initial decision to refuse clearance had a detailed rationale.

The report said: “It correctly highlighted the relevant corruption risks. But the constabulary overturned this decision and didn’t record its rationale. The individual was employed.”

Meanwhile in one case an applicant's son had “serious criminal matters recorded on police systems”.

The report said: “The constabulary hadn't recorded a rationale for its decisions in five of these cases.”