PSNI vetting, tattoos and criminal convictions

PSNI vetting checks your integrity, finances, police contact, associations and history before you are appointed, and the PSNI says a matter in your past does not automatically stop you joining. Four things do: a custodial sentence, a suspended sentence or detention at a Young Offenders Centre; a conviction for causing death or grievous bodily harm by dangerous or reckless driving; more than one period of driving disqualification; and being or having been a registered sex offender. Everything else is judged case by case.

What vetting looks for

The PSNI describes vetting as identifying, assessing and managing risks relating to integrity, public safety, national security, corruption, coercion, financial vulnerability and criminal or inappropriate associations. It says vetting is meant to let suitable people in, and that each case is decided on its circumstances, with public protection the main consideration. The officer and police staff recruitment pages carry the same wording. Vetting comes after the assessment stage. The full order of stages is in the PSNI recruitment process step by step, and pre-employment checks shows how these checks compare with other employers.

What you must declare

You must answer every question fully and openly. The PSNI lists personal circumstances, criminal history, police contact, finances, employment history, social media use and associations. You must also disclose all previous contact with the police and the courts, including matters that did not lead to a conviction.

If you are unsure whether something should be declared, the PSNI advises disclosing it with an explanation. Lying, concealing information or deliberately withholding relevant details may be taken as a sign that you are unreliable or lack integrity, and that can count against you whether it surfaces during vetting or later in your career.

The three-year history

Every applicant must give a history for the last three years that can be checked. If you lived outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland during that time, you may need a criminal record certificate from each country where you lived. If the PSNI cannot complete the necessary checks, your vetting application may not go any further. You are also asked about previous employment, and any misconduct or disciplinary process at work leads to an assessment of your suitability.

Tattoos

A tattoo does not automatically prevent you joining, but some may not be acceptable, particularly visible ones. The PSNI takes particular care over tattoos on the head, face, neck and hands, or that uniform cannot cover, and weighs size, nature and prominence. A tattoo will be unacceptable if it:

• conceals an officer’s identity to a degree that prevents them doing the role;
• could make a member of the public feel intimidated, threatened or uncomfortable;
• is contrary to the equality protections in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998;
• breaches the PSNI’s Good and Harmonious Working Environment;
• could reasonably be read as offensive to the public or colleagues; or
• indicates alignment with a particular group in a way that is incompatible with policing standards.

When asked, you must provide a photograph and a description of every tattoo. Each description has to give the size, location and nature of the tattoo and the complete wording of any text, names or quotations. Non-English words, characters or representations need a verifiable translation.

The substance misuse test

The PSNI also tests for drugs by hair sample before appointment, and a result can feed into vetting. If a result suggests historic or occasional use, frequent contact with drugs or environmental exposure, the matter goes to the Service Vetting Unit. You may be interviewed to explain it, and the application may be referred to the Vetting Panel. Clearance given before the result arrives can be revoked.

What to check

• Whether any of the four listed convictions applies to you.
• That you can list addresses, work and study for the past three years in a way others can confirm.
• Whether you need overseas criminal record certificates, and how long they take.
• Photographs and full descriptions for each tattoo, with translations where needed.
• Your social media history and associations, which the PSNI includes in what you should declare.

Employers in England and Wales use DBS checks instead: see DBS checks and criminal records. If you are unsure about an old matter, email [email protected] for officer roles or [email protected] for police staff roles.