Report Summary
This report provides members of the Complaints & Conduct Committee with an overview of Police Scotland Vetting Annual Report.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Complaints & Conduct Committee - 4 September 2025
Date : 04 September 2025
Location : Online
Force Vetting - Next Steps
On 16 December 2024, the College of Policing launched the updated Vetting Authorised Professional Practice (APP) for England and Wales which introduces more robust vetting standards for potential and currently serving police officers and staff, ensuring only those suitable can join and remain in policing. In parallel, new vetting application forms have been introduced which collate protected characteristic information from applicants.
Approval has been given from the College of Policing for Police Scotland to adapt the APP for ‘local’ use and a draft APP Standard Operating Procedure, DPIA, EQHRIA and revised application form in support of the delivery of Police Scotland Vetting Regulations under the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 is under development.
The Force Vetting Unit has established a dedicated team to progress policy matters including delivery of vetting requirements under Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 and the HMICS recommendations from the Assurance Review of Vetting 2023. A separate paper has been provided to outline the progress of the HMICS recommendations work.
Financial investment has been secured to support an upgrade to Police Scotland’s Vetting case management system “Corevet” and this is currently being progressed. This upgrade and introduction of revised vetting forms will provide additional capability to the Force Vetting Unit to gather and monitor applicant diversity information.
The Force Vetting Unit continues to develop its’ transparency and communication to vetting applicants, offering and providing additional support to all applicants during form submission and any subsequent vetting interview from the outset.
The Force Vetting Unit will continue to seek opportunities to benchmark and engage other forces across the UK as well as the ongoing College of Policing work to ensure Police Scotland vetting is aligned to best practice and corporate and public reassurance in respect of vetting matters is delivered.
