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Defence

About Defence

Defence Vetting Agency - Frequently Asked Questions - Assessment of suitability


Questions about assessment of suitability

Who decides whether a security clearance will be granted? The DVA will make a recommendation in the light of all the available information obtained during the vetting process. 

Will I be told whether a clearance has been granted? You will normally be told the result of the vetting process. In a very small number of cases, considerations of national security and maintaining the confidential nature of information provided by referees may limit disclosure. If a clearance has been denied on the grounds of a criminal record, or as a result of financial enquiries, you will be shown the information on which the decision was based and will have the opportunity to correct any inaccuracies. Applicants for employment will not automatically be told whether a clearance has been granted, as this will not necessarily be a relevant factor in the decision whether or not to employ them. 

Can I appeal against a vetting decision? If you are a civil servant, member of the Armed Forces or employed in Defence Industry, internal appeal procedures are open to you to appeal against vetting decisions. In addition, if the internal appeal process does not satisfy you, you can be referred to the independent Cabinet Office Security Vetting Appeals Panel. Applicants for employment have no formal right of appeal.

What if vetting clearance is refused? This does not happen often, although some clearances are granted conditionally, including monitoring and frequent reviews. If DV clearance is refused, you will be told what steps are open to you.

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.