Stage 3 – Vetting & Reference Checks
The Scottish Police Service is committed to maintaining the highest levels of honesty and integrity and to prevent corrupt, dishonest, unethical or unprofessional behaviour.  Vetting is carried out on all applicants to the Scottish Police Service to ensure the reputations of the service and individual Forces are maintained and their assets safeguarded.

To help ensure that those with access to personal data are trustworthy, and unlikely to breach confidences, vetting of candidates, relatives and known associates must be undertaken. It is therefore important that the vetting form is completed correctly.  Failure to do so may result in your application being terminated.

References will also be requested from previous employers and, unless otherwise requested, your current employer.

Police officers are in a privileged position with regard to access to information and could be considered potentially vulnerable to corruption. Applicants to the police service should not therefore be under pressure from un discharged debts or liabilities and should be able to manage loans and debts sensibly.

Police Regulations also state that a member of a police force shall not wilfully refuse or neglect to discharge any lawful debt. Your application will therefore be checked to determine and verify your financial position.

Most applicants have debts, such as mortgages, un discharged student or other loans, and credit/store card debts. Debts which are within your means and are manageable are not a bar to appointment.

* Applicants who have existing Sheriff Court (County Court in England and Wales) Judgments outstanding against them or who have been registered bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have not been discharged will not be considered.
* Applicants who have discharged Sheriff Court (County Court in England and Wales) Judgments may be considered.
* Applicants who have been registered as bankrupt and their bankruptcy debts have been discharged will only be considered after three years from discharge of the debt.