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Written question asked by Chi Onwurah (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 January 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 3 February 2023 (named day). It was answered by Chris Philp (Conservative) on Friday, 3 February 2023 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police: Vetting

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2023 to Question 129799 on Police: DNA, whether biometric vetting with consent always includes DNA testing against the police database; and whether the College of Policing's vetting authorised professional practice guidance is mandatory.

Answer

Police forces are expected to carry out vetting in line with both the College of Policing’s statutory Vetting Code of Practice and Authorised Professional Practice (APP) guidance.

The APP highlights that successful policing candidates will be asked to provide their fingerprints and a DNA sample by consent. These are checked against the relevant local and national databases before commencing employment.

The APP is non-statutory guidance which supports the consistent application of the minimum standards of vetting, set out in the Vetting Code of Practice. Principle 4 of the Vetting Code of Practice highlights that police vetting should comply with the standards laid out in the APP.

In light of significant concerns raised around vetting of the police workforce, the Home Secretary has recently asked the College of Policing to strengthen the Vetting Code of Practice to make the obligations all forces must legally follow stricter and clearer.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
136627
Session
2022-23
Related items
Police: DNA
Friday, 27 January 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Police: Vetting
Thursday, 9 February 2023
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Databases Biometrics DNA Personal records Police Standards Vetting College of Policing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk