Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')
As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.
You asked:
Could you please tell me how regularly serving officers and police staff have their details checked against the national police database (as NPCC guidance now says it should be) for potential criminality or concerns about their behaviour?
Are they
A) Checked against it when they apply/join the force in the first instance?
B ) How often are they checked against it during their employment, assuming no adverse information/cause to do so has been raised?
C) If your force will check all of its officers and police staff against the database?
In Response:
We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.
Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Professional Standards Department of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police.
I am able to disclose the located information to you as follows.
Vetting checks on the national police database are completed in accordance with the Vetting Code of Practice and associated Authorised Professional Practice on vetting. In order to aid and assist you I have provided a link below for both of these:
Vetting | College of Policing
A. Vetting checks are completed when candidates apply to the force on the police national database in accordance with the Vetting Code of Practice and associated Authorised Professional Practice on vetting.
B. Vetting checks are completed on the national police database in accordance with the Vetting Code of Practice and associated Authorised Professional Practice on vetting.
C. Northumbria Police support the process and will comply with the recommendations from HMICFRS.
If you decide to write an article / use the enclosed data we would ask you to take into consideration the factors highlighted in this document so as to not mislead members of the public or official bodies, or misrepresent the relevance of the whole or any part of this disclosed material.
