What does Vetting entail? 

All applicants must complete vetting prior to joining a force, to identify whether they are suitable to become a police officer. The vetting process also includes disclosing information on your friends and family, to ensure that you aren’t vulnerable to extortion or blackmail. 

You’ll be asked to provide information on: 

• Yourself (personal, financial, police, criminal history) 
• Your family (parents, parents’ partners, siblings, partner(s), children) 
• Co-residents 
• Associations that may cause a conflict of interest with your role or the police service 

Vetting also includes: 

• Background checks across all police information systems on you, your family and other associates i.e. individuals with whom you have significant financial arrangements, such as business partners and those who make child support payments 
• Credit reference checks(to make sure money problems don’t make you vulnerable to blackmail or corruption) 
• Social media and Open-Source checks (these are checks on content about you that is publicly available on the internet to ensure there’s nothing linked to you that could undermine public trust and confidence in the police service) 
• Other government and overseas agency checks 

How much information should I include? 

If you are not sure how much detail to provide, then more is always preferable. Common mistakes include not providing enough detail or failing to declare something. This can cause delays and prevent you from joining the programme in time. 

If you have any doubts about the relevance of a conviction or caution, include the details anyway, as it is important for you to demonstrate honesty throughout the vetting process. 

What should I declare? 

We ask that you are open and honest and declare all investigations, cautions, convictions or interactions with the police, no matter when these took place or how significant they were. Misleading, incomplete or inaccurate information could result in you not being able to join the programme.  

To start initial training, all vetting must be completed. Here are some examples of common scenarios that need declaration:  

• My vehicle was pulled over at a police traffic stop, but no formal action was taken.  
• I was questioned by the police once; however, I was not arrested, and no formal action was taken.  
• I received a speeding fine 15 years ago. 

If in doubt, disclose. 

What if I have a criminal record? 

The RGP apply the criminal convictions guidance contained within its Vetting Policy in relation to all Police Officer and Police Staff applications. 

It is not appropriate to identify a prescriptive list of convictions and cautions that should lead to a vetting rejection.  Each case should be considered on its own individual merits in relation to the role being undertaken and assets being accessed, subject to the rejection criteria highlighted below. 

The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Part 25 of the Gibraltar Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 2011) does not apply to any Police Officers or Police Cadets training to become Police Officers or to any persons who will be employed to work as Police Staff. 

Each case is considered on its own individual merits in relation to the role being undertaken and assets being accessed. 

Applications for a position as a Police Officer or as a member of Police Staff where that member of staff may be in the evidential chain are rejected in all cases where: 

• Offences were committed as an adult or juvenile which resulted in a prison sentence (including custodial, suspended or deferred sentence and sentences served at a young offenders’ institution or community home). 
• An applicant is identified as having a conviction or caution for a sexual offence. 
• The applicant is a registered sex offender or is subject to a registration requirement in respect of any other conviction. 
• An applicant is identified as being listed on the UK Police Barred and Advisory lists.