Advice on roles with the Police
Discussion
I have been put forward for an IT role with my local Police force and seem to be well qualified for the role. I have an interview tomorrow with the possibility of a second interview on Friday.
My reason for posting is that I have a rather chequered credit history (including a couple of active defaults) and was wondering if this will hinder my application. I don't want to waste their time and mine if this is going to put stop to any job offers.
My reason for posting is that I have a rather chequered credit history (including a couple of active defaults) and was wondering if this will hinder my application. I don't want to waste their time and mine if this is going to put stop to any job offers.
I worked in IT for a police force for a number of years. Depending on the role you may be required to go through the vetting process - particularly if you need to support computers in special branch, or PNC terminals etc. Probably to SC level. This may involve a financial questionnaire (mine did). The key here, as has been said above, is honesty. Having a poor credit history is not necessarily a barrier to gaining security clearance. The moment they find you have lied it is game over.
The vetting process is about understanding what risk someone is of releasing confidential information, having a poor credit history or a lot of debt maybe seen as a risk that you are susceptible to bribes, but you will find that a lot of people in that situation have bad debt and if that was problem then many people wouldn't get clearance. Often they look at ways of mitigating the risk, rather than refusing clearance.
By not declaring the information when asked you show yourself as dishonest and that will mean you don't get cleared.
The vetting process is about understanding what risk someone is of releasing confidential information, having a poor credit history or a lot of debt maybe seen as a risk that you are susceptible to bribes, but you will find that a lot of people in that situation have bad debt and if that was problem then many people wouldn't get clearance. Often they look at ways of mitigating the risk, rather than refusing clearance.
By not declaring the information when asked you show yourself as dishonest and that will mean you don't get cleared.
Thanks for that information, it's good to know that I might not have to pay for poor decisions a second time round!
Had the second interview today and all seemed to go well, was more an informal chat than the in depth questioning that the recruitment agency had warned me of. All being good I should hear back this afternoon and then move onto the vetting stage, which I'm led to believe will be the higher level due to the level of access the role involves.
Had the second interview today and all seemed to go well, was more an informal chat than the in depth questioning that the recruitment agency had warned me of. All being good I should hear back this afternoon and then move onto the vetting stage, which I'm led to believe will be the higher level due to the level of access the role involves.
Muncle Trogg said:
Thanks for that information, it's good to know that I might not have to pay for poor decisions a second time round!
Had the second interview today and all seemed to go well, was more an informal chat than the in depth questioning that the recruitment agency had warned me of. All being good I should hear back this afternoon and then move onto the vetting stage, which I'm led to believe will be the higher level due to the level of access the role involves.
Glad it went well. Do you know what level vetting it is? There are three vetting levels, CTC - which is a basic PNC check and a form to fill in, SC - which is a bit more detailed and may involve financial checks, and DV - which is very full on and takes about 6 months to complete and involves interviews with friends and family. It is unlikely you will need DV unless you will be working for special branch or counter terroism unit. I was only required to have SC level and I had access to a lot of systems.Had the second interview today and all seemed to go well, was more an informal chat than the in depth questioning that the recruitment agency had warned me of. All being good I should hear back this afternoon and then move onto the vetting stage, which I'm led to believe will be the higher level due to the level of access the role involves.
944fan said:
Glad it went well. Do you know what level vetting it is? There are three vetting levels, CTC - which is a basic PNC check and a form to fill in, SC - which is a bit more detailed and may involve financial checks, and DV - which is very full on and takes about 6 months to complete and involves interviews with friends and family. It is unlikely you will need DV unless you will be working for special branch or counter terroism unit. I was only required to have SC level and I had access to a lot of systems.
Cheers.I believe it will be SC as they mentioned full finance checks and record checking of family. Hopefully I have no dodgy relatives hidden away somewhere!
Muncle Trogg said:
Cheers.
I believe it will be SC as they mentioned full finance checks and record checking of family. Hopefully I have no dodgy relatives hidden away somewhere!
The financial checks will be a credit check potential and a questionnaire about the current state of your finances. I am sure you will be fine.I believe it will be SC as they mentioned full finance checks and record checking of family. Hopefully I have no dodgy relatives hidden away somewhere!
When I was there one of my colleagues got clearance even though he was big muckers with some criminals, some of whom were in jail.
Muncle Trogg said:
Cheers.
I believe it will be SC as they mentioned full finance checks and record checking of family. Hopefully I have no dodgy relatives hidden away somewhere!
That will almost certainly be DV. I was interviewed for an IT Service Manager role with the Met and that required DV.I believe it will be SC as they mentioned full finance checks and record checking of family. Hopefully I have no dodgy relatives hidden away somewhere!
SC doesn't require a full finance check.
If you've got nothing major to hide, don't worry.
In my experience of both processes, SC they will call people and ask about you, DV they actually interview people.
I've been called once (for SC) and interviewed once (for DV).
DV is a HUGE and LONG process, which they'll make you aware of I imagine.
In my experience of both processes, SC they will call people and ask about you, DV they actually interview people.
I've been called once (for SC) and interviewed once (for DV).
DV is a HUGE and LONG process, which they'll make you aware of I imagine.
It wouldn't be a problem for DV even, so long as you're always honest with any questions asked on the vetting forms (or by an officer if it comes to that) and as long as it's in the past.
Supposedly just to ensure you're not desperately looking to take a bribe to get yourself out of trouble by flogging any sensitive data.
Supposedly just to ensure you're not desperately looking to take a bribe to get yourself out of trouble by flogging any sensitive data.
Russ T Bolt said:
That will almost certainly be DV. I was interviewed for an IT Service Manager role with the Met and that required DV.
SC doesn't require a full finance check.
It depends on the agency doing the vetting. I've been through SC with the police and MoD. The police did financial checks, the MoD didn't. They sometimes interview for SC if they want to clarify things.SC doesn't require a full finance check.
I've been through DV with another agency and that is a painful process. It took 6 monthss to get clearance and I have a fairly simple history and small family.
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