What role does the Equalities Team play within the Vetting Department of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), and what impact does it have on vetting prospective recruits?

The role of the Equality team is to support underrepresented applicants through the vetting process. This includes explaining what is required and why, and answering any questions they may have. The key aims of this are to demystify the vetting process and build confidence.

The Equality team works collaboratively with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) recruitment Outreach teams to engage with potential applicants. The Equality teams also has a role, alongside other MPS stakeholders, as part of the vetting reviews panel.

Since its establishment, there has been an improvement in the number of officer applicants passing the Police National Computer (PNC) Sift Stage, positive impact and applicant testimonies from recruitment events that the equality team have attended, and a decrease in the number of applicants being refused vetting for non-declaration reasons.