Eligibility

The police service is committed to maintaining the highest levels of honesty and integrity and to preventing corrupt, dishonest, unethical or unprofessional behaviour. Vetting helps support this, reducing the risks of unauthorised disclosure or loss of sensitive police information.

Public confidence in the police is crucial, particularly as we "police by consent." Public confidence in policing depends on officers, staff, Specials and volunteers demonstrating the highest standards of personal and professional behaviour.

The public must have confidence that police vetting processes are effective in identifying those who might pose a risk to the community. The police service must also be alive to the threat from organised crime groups and others who might try to gain access to police systems and intelligence.

Vetting helps identify people who are unsuitable to work in the police service. This includes those who are unsuitable through criminal activity or association, those who have a clear lack of honesty and those who are financially vulnerable.

Vetting helps us to maintain a healthy organisation.

Please note the following is provided as guidance; any successful application is assessed on a case by case basis and is subject to an individual successfully passing vetting.

The Chief Constable reserves the right to reject any application.

Ideally, you should not have a criminal record.

Some minor convictions may not preclude you. You must declare any conviction, civil or military (including minor and juvenile offences, cautions, bind-overs, reprimands and fixed penalty notices) regardless of how long ago these took place.

Spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 must be declared.

Finally, you must also declare if you have ever been involved in any criminal investigation whether or not this led to prosecution (either of yourself or those associated with you).

Police National Computer (PNC) records will be checked and failure to declare any of these will result in rejection on integrity grounds.

This information will NOT be divulged to your family or employer.

Certain jobs result in conflicts of interest.

There is quite a list, but here are some examples of where applicants employed in the following roles will not be eligible for selection:

• Armed Forces personnel (not reservists)
• Traffic Wardens, civil enforcement officers and school crossing patrols.
• Neighbourhood and Street Wardens.
• Highways Agency Traffic Officers employed in an 'on-road' capacity.
• Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
• Members of private constabularies.
• Ministry of Justice employees (Magistrates, Judges, Clerks, CPS).
• Immigration Officers.
• Any other employment that the Chief Constable deems a conflict of interest.

If you are in any doubt, please contact the Specials recruitment officer for further guidance.

All applicants need to have resided permanently in the UK, without a break, for a minimum of three years prior to applying, with indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

If your residency abroad involved work with the UK Government Service then you would still be considered to have been resident in the UK.

Applicants will have their financial status checked. Police officers are in a privileged position and could therefore be considered potentially vulnerable to corruption.

Applicants who have existing County Court Judgements outstanding against them or who have been registered bankrupt and these debts have not been discharged will not be considered.

You will be asked to run between two points 15 metres apart, in time with a series of bleeps. The timing between bleeps is slow at first but the bleep becomes faster as the test progresses. You will be given full instructions on the day of the test and can make sure you’re prepared by watching the fitness test explained.

This is a face-to-face, group exercise focusing on the competencies associated with the role of the Special Constable.

For biometric vetting we will take a sample of your fingerprints and a DNA sample (mouth swab), then checks will be made against the appropriate databases. We search to determine whether you have come to police attention or associated with a crime.

Tattoos are not necessarily a bar to appointment. However, some tattoos could potentially offend colleagues, members of the public or could bring discredit to Hertfordshire Constabulary. If you have tattoos, please take a photograph and send in with your application form, together with a description, their size and location.

We will verify your identification and take photocopies to accompany your baseline vetting form. You will be asked to supply an email address so that our vetting officer can forward you the necessary links to complete a comprehensive vetting form.

If you have any further questions, please email.