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Vetting

Professional Standards — Authorised Professional Practice

All topics

Summary

The College of Policing's Vetting APP is designed to support police forces in implementing effective vetting processes. Collaborating with the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and Home Office, this revised guidance aligns with the Vetting Code of Practice (2023). It emphasizes a systematic approach to vetting within the broader context of managing complaints, misconduct, and counter-corruption. The APP also highlights ongoing reviews prompted by legal rulings, ensuring continuous improvement of standards and policies.

Key principles

  • 1Support the Vetting Code of Practice (2023)
  • 2Provide comprehensive details for efficient vetting processes
  • 3Link to supporting materials in the appendices
  • 4Review guidance following legal rulings
  • 5Ensure alignment with public sector standards

Defined terms

APP
Authorised Professional Practice
NPCC
National Police Chiefs' Council
Vetting Code of Practice (2023)
A set of guidelines for vetting processes in policing.

This is a brief, factual summary. The full APP guidance — including operational detail, statutory references and case studies — lives on the College of Policing website. APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.