Chair Darren Pemble was speaking after the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) announced that it is looking into legal action to stop new vetting rules that it says will unfairly destroy the careers of good police officers.

While the PFEW says it supports a tightening of the current vetting system, any new rules should be backed by Government regulation and an independent process.

Currently, both the PFEW and the Police Superintendents’ Association oppose the new vetting guidance drawn up by the College of Policing.

Darren said: “Recent history shows that we need to root out bad cops and vetting needs to be improved to avoid repeating the past. However, the rushed out vetting rules from the College of Policing appear to be unfair.

“The College of Policing have been reluctant to respond to PFEW’s serious concerns where both PFEW and the PSA have sought to engage with them to highlight the lack of balance and proportionality. The timing is also poor given that new Police Regulations will be introduced next year.

“This is alarming and concerning for all police officers. It cannot be right that an officer’s vetting is removed on the basis of false or incomplete information and intelligence.

“There is no independent appeals process, which is concerning as any adverse information can result in an officer having their vetting removed without knowing what that information is.

“The new vetting rules are likely to affect the recruitment and retention of officers at a time when the Government has promised to recruit 13,000 additional neighbourhood police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables.

“We all want better vetting to eradicate the bad cops from the service, but what we don’t want is a vetting system based on the subjective opinion of vetting managers in each force who are able to overrule the findings of a misconduct panel and effectively dismiss an officer.

“The appeals process in the new vetting rules is also flawed, as the Chair alone makes the decision. The APP is not fit for purpose and PFEW will continue to push for a fair and workable system.”

PFEW claims that the College of Policing’s new rules are “badly drawn up, lack an independent appeals process, and could lead to officers having their vetting withdrawn on receiving adverse information without officers knowing what that information is”.

PFEW’s legal advisers are investigating whether the proposed new Vetting Authorised Professional Practice (APP) could be in breach of the Article 6 Convention on Human Rights.

Tiff Lynch, PFEW Acting National Chair, said: “We support the introduction of stronger vetting processes, founded in regulation, so the highest standards are always upheld and maintained. However, the new guidance from the College has been rushed out, with minimal consultation, and risks a number of unintended consequences. Decent officers could see their livelihoods disappear on the basis of false information and vexatious allegations.

“It can’t be acceptable that life-changing decisions can be made on the subjective opinion vetting managers in each force who are able to overrule the findings of a misconduct panel and effectively dismiss an officer. The appeals process panel is also flawed in the sense that the Chair alone makes the decision. This APP is not fit for purpose, and we will continue to push for a fair and workable system.”