At least 1,200 serving police officers across England and Wales are currently deployed in operational roles despite having failed enhanced vetting checks or having had their vetting assessments overdue for more than 24 months, according to data compiled by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and seen by Exposed News.
The figures, drawn from HMICFRS’s rolling inspection programme, have not been published in any force’s annual report or disclosed to Police and Crime Commissioners. HMICFRS inspectors describe the position in an unpublished annexe to a 2026 inspection report as “an unacceptable risk to public confidence and, in some cases, to public safety.”
How the Gap Emerged
Following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in 2021, the College of Policing introduced mandatory enhanced vetting for all officers with access to the Police National Computer and those serving in specialist roles. Forces were given until April 2024 to complete the rollout.
Exposed News has obtained responses to FOI requests from 31 of the 43 constabularies in England and Wales. Of those that responded, 19 confirmed they had not met the April 2024 deadline. The most common reasons given were “competing demand on vetting units,” “staff shortages in HR functions,” and “legal challenges from officers disputing vetting outcomes.”
Officers Challenging Outcomes
Of the 1,200 officers flagged, approximately 340 are serving pending the outcome of internal appeals against vetting decisions, a process that the College of Policing’s own guidance says should take no longer than 90 days but which forces report averaging 14 months. Officers subject to appeals retain full operational powers, including the power of arrest, throughout the process.
A former senior HMICFRS inspector, speaking to Exposed News on condition of anonymity, described the appeals backlog as “a legal and reputational time bomb.” He said: “You have officers the force has decided should not hold a vetting clearance who are still stopping people in the street.”
Home Office Position
The Home Office told Exposed News it “expected all forces to comply fully with vetting requirements” and that HMICFRS had “the necessary powers to require remedial action.” It declined to say whether any force had been formally required to take remedial action or whether ministers had been briefed on the 1,200 figure.