National security vetting in the regulated transport industry
Guidance for applicants and industry on national security vetting and counter terrorist checks in the regulated transport sector.
Documents
Details
What is national security vetting?
The Cabinet Office provides advice and guidance for individuals who are subject to HMG recruitment and National Security Vetting (NSV) controls:
The Department for Transport (DfT) has defined in directions the specific roles and duties across the regulated transport industry for which NSV is required, as well as the type of clearance required. These directions have not been published for reasons of national security but have been made available to the industry.
Please note that only defined roles are eligible for NSV clearance and that all applications must be made through a nominated industry sponsor authorised by DfT. Speculative applications will not be considered.
Application process
Instructions
This process is for individuals in the regulated transport sector who have been directly instructed by their employer or DfT that they require an NSV clearance.
Please note that applications must be made through a nominated industry sponsor authorised by DfT. Speculative applications will not be considered.
Applicants should read the latest HMG Personnel Security and National Security Vetting Policy Statement prior to completing the security questionnaire.
The HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) in recruitment practice, outlined in the statement above, must also be met. However, please note that a basic criminal records disclosure from Disclosure Scotland or Access Northern Ireland is not required prior to submitting the questionnaire.
The NSV application process moved to an online system in 2011. Industry sponsors are now required to send the following information for each applicant to personnelsecurity@dft.gsi.gov.uk:
- full name of applicant
- date of birth of applicant
- email address of applicant
- National insurance number of applicant
- job title of applicant
- town of birth of applicant
- country of birth of applicant
- level of security clearance required by applicant
Relevant offences
These offences apply only to applications for national security vetting in the transport sector regulated by the DfT.
Relevant offences for use against a criminal record check (basic disclosure) to complete a background check in the regulated aviation sector are available at disqualifying convictions aviation.
All types of NSV include a check of criminal record information.
Please note that a conviction for a relevant offence listed below is not necessarily a bar to NSV clearance. DfT will consider on a case-by-case basis whether any conviction is relevant to suitability for the post and type of clearance for which the individual is applying.
DfT, in carrying out checks as part of the NSV process, will consider both spent and unspent convictions. It will also include police cautions and additional information held on local police records and considered to be relevant to the post and type of clearance for which the individual is applying.
Lists of relevant offences for the regulated transport industry were drawn up by DfT in consultation with industry and the police. Where appropriate, DfT may take into account offences other than those in these lists. More weight may be attached to one or more offences as an indicator of possible unsuitability where they are serious, repeated and recent.
Failure to declare criminal convictions on the security questionnaire may also give rise to serious concerns.
Lists of relevant offences for the transport industry regulated by DfT
- Offences in England and Wales which would disqualify transport security personnel
- Offences in Scotland which would disqualify transport security personnel
- Offences in Northern Ireland which would disqualify transport security personnel
- Offences which would disqualify transport security personnel under military law
Appeal procedures
The Cabinet Office outlines the appeals procedures for national security vetting (NSV):
Request for appointment of a counter-signatory
A counter-signatory is required for a directed party to pass responsibility for managing NSV applications to a contractor.