Security clearance denied. What can I do?

Tiddlywinks

Read this:

https://www.gov.uk/security-vetting-and-clearance#assessment-of-suitability

' Will a criminal record result in clearance being refused?

Not necessarily. Each case will be judged on its merits. The important thing is to be completely open about any criminal history - including spent convictions and police cautions.
Any attempt to hide information could be taken as evidence of unreliability/dishonesty and may affect the clearance.'

Tiddlywinks

ValHaller wrote: »

Basically, Rehabilitation of Offenders Act makes it truthful to deny certain convictions, even if they did happen. So, the defence is that there was no lie.

Not for vetting purposes - even spent convictions must be declared... and that is pointed out on the form.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/28419/Form_NSV001.pdf

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

Unlikely that you would fail Security Clearance for a....... a caution 14 years ago, so you need to push them for the information.

It's not about the caution - it's about the failure to declare the caution.

theoretica

It could be a mistake - I knew someone who was given a dreadful time by US immigration, apparently because they were looking out for someone with the same name (even though they told him the chap they wanted was a foot taller and of a different race...).

makeyourdaddyproud

Could it be entirely possibly that you're related to someone who has links to organised crime, terrorism, extremism without you knowing? If this is the case you may never know the reason.

Or perhaps you have a fairly rare family name to someone involved in the above, in your area. Playing it safe in the name of national interest will simply mean rejection of your application.

It certainly won't be due to a caution.

theoretica

Security clearance also includes financial checks. I don't know if this is just on you, or on family and close friends too, but might this be the issue?

paulineb_2

funky348 wrote: »

Whats my chances of appealing if it was this arrest? If i basically say i didnt think that the arrest was on my record?
If it is something else surely they would need to give me details.

If i go for a job that requires SC checks can i apply again? or because of this recent check i cant reapply.

An arrest wont show up on a disclosure check, think of how many people get arrested every day and then released without charge.

Have you ever had a job where you had to have a CRB check or a disclosure done?

paulineb_2

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Not for vetting purposes - even spent convictions must be declared... and that is pointed out on the form.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/28419/Form_NSV001.pdf



It's not about the caution - it's about the failure to declare the caution.

The OP doesnt have a caution, they were arrested and let out an hour later.

Yorkie1

But the OP was photographed and says he was charged. That's not consistent with it just being an arrest and let out without any further action after 1 hour. TBH I don't think we can say with any certainty that he wasn't actually cautioned.

This is also just a council job, by OP's account. (Not meaning to belittle it there, just to say that it's not GCHQ or MI5 etc). I can't imagine it would require the high civil service Security Clearance and Counter Terrorism Clearance checks to be done - but if it did, then it would be an enhanced DBS level check rather than the standard level one, and this would reveal matters other than non-spent convictions. It includes police intelligence if considered relevant.

Something doesn't quite add up. I'm not saying the OP is deliberately misleading us here, but may be a little confused about what happened 18 years ago.

OP, when you applied for the DBS check and got the paperwork back, what did it say?

Also, the suggestion to wait until the person gets back to you with the formal outcome is a good one.

Dunroamin

Given the situation you describe and the fact that you don't remember much about it (drugs tend to have that effect) it sounds to me as if you do have a caution.Perhaps you misheard?

funky348

I'll just wait to see the reason they have given and get back to you.
Thanks for help all.