Vetting failures in Police Scotland are posing risks to the safety of officers and staff, potentially making them vulnerable to corruption or targeting by criminal organizations. As a result, calls have been made for the Scottish Government to intervene and address the issue.
The watchdog, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), conducted an investigation and found that not all officers in Police Scotland have vetting records. Additionally, the force does not re-vet employees who only have recruitment vetting. These failures in the vetting process increase the risk of officers being influenced or blackmailed by terrorists and criminals.
To address these issues, HMICS has recommended that all workers in Police Scotland undergo at least recruitment vetting. Furthermore, individuals who hold only recruitment vetting should be re-vetted every 10 years. The investigation also revealed other gaps in the vetting system, such as the absence of checks on vetting clearances for officers and staff from legacy forces and the lack of a requirement for individuals to report off-duty criminal convictions or charges. In addition, there is no process for reviewing vetting clearance following misconduct.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs of Police Scotland responded to the findings by stating that the force’s commitment to upholding values and standards has never been stronger.
This investigation comes in the wake of recent police scandals, such as the case of David Carrick, a former Metropolitan Police officer who was convicted of rape and sex offenses. While Police Scotland has initiated checks against national databases for all its 22,000 staff members, there is no legal requirement for the force to vet its officers and staff. The training and mentoring provided by the Force Vetting Unit (FVU) were noted to be of a high standard.
HMICS is currently conducting a wider inspection of the organizational culture within Police Scotland, and its review of vetting policy and procedures is part of this process. HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland Craig Naylor has called on the Scottish Government to legislate a minimum level of vetting for all officers and staff in Police Scotland and to enable the chief constable to dismiss individuals who cannot maintain suitable vetting.
Mr. Naylor emphasized the importance of addressing these issues due to the negative impact recent policing scandals have had on public confidence. Ensuring that risks posed by officers and staff are identified and managed appropriately is crucial, and the protection of vulnerable individuals should be prioritized. The watchdog also highlighted the absence of a clear process for individuals to report significant changes in personal circumstances or convictions to the police service. It was suggested that vetting clearance should be reviewed following misconduct proceedings to address any new risks.