In the United Kingdom, government policy requires that staff undergo security vetting in order to gain access to government information.
The government uses four levels: Annex C, p. 24 of personnel security controls depending on the level of assurance required. Three of these levels are types of national security vetting clearance.: Annex B
Vetting is intended to assure government bodies that the individual has not been involved in espionage, terrorism, sabotage or actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means. It also assures the department that the individual has not been a member of, or associated with, an organisation which has advocated such activities or has demonstrated a lack of reliability through dishonesty, lack of integrity or behaviour. Finally, the process assures the department that the individual will not be subject to pressure or improper influence through past behaviour or personal circumstances.
Vetting is usually carried out by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV). UKSV was created in January 2017 by combining DBS National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) and FCO Services National Security Vetting (FCOS NSV). This change was an outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.: 7.17
There is also Cluster 2 Vetting sitting adjacent to UKSV United Kingdom Security Vetting, usually for staff working under the Home Office and providing continued after-care such as travel advice and guidance.
Security and intelligence agencies such as MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service, MI5, the The Security Service, the National Crime Agency and Government Communications Headquarters carry out their own in-house vetting using specialised interviewing officers and security teams.
It is possible for subjects to pass security vetting with one department/agency, yet fail it with another. Also some subjects for example may be granted SC (Security Check), yet be refused DV (Developed Vetting) clearance. This gives an indication of how nuanced the process can be.
Different levels of vetting with different criteria also exist within the British Police, often referred to as Force Vetting (which is usually carried out by individual forces), albeit with more emphasis on criminality (either individually or within ones family) and any criminal associations or connections.
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