Overview of the latest changes to APP.
APP is subject to review (either scheduled or triggered) in consultation with the relevant National Policing Business Area. All amendments go through a review process and further information is available from contactus@college.police.uk
More detailed changes to APP content may be recorded separately by the the APP team. If you require a copy of APP as it was on a particular date (for example, for an enquiry) please email contactcentre@college.police.uk. All requests must be approved by the relevant Policing Standards Manager.
Latest changes to APP
| Date | Category | Guidance | Changes |
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| Mental health | Mental vulnerability and illness | Under 'Crisis or medical information cards and services' the following changes were made:
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| Armed policing | Issue and carriage of firearms | 03/06/2025 - new paragraph added called 'Selection of AFOs' and order of the sections changed to be more chronological. Section called 'Suitability for the AFO role' changed to 'Continued suitability for the AFO role'. The word 'particularly' removed from 'Request to temporarily stand down' section. |
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| Critical incident management | Phase 2 – managing critical incidents | Removal of paragraph 'This is a developing area of work. Forces wishing to develop a tactical capacity for spontaneous incidents should contact the MPS CI team for further information' under Spontaneous incidents. Removal of reference to MPS using CITA's and made a general reference to the use of CITAs. |
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| Investigation | Managing effective investigations | Updated links to Investigator PIP 1, Investigator PIP, Level 3 – Manager or expert advisor roles in the professional profiles and Level 4 – Service function leader in the professional profiles. |
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| Detention and custody > Detainee care | Detainee individual needs | In the 'Gender reassignment' section
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| Major investigation and public protection | Knife crime | Changed reference to - National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Crown Prosecution Service (2020) Knife crime practical guidance - and removed sentence afterwards - 'This guidance is for police officers and prosecutors.' New reference - Crown Prosecution Service (2025) Knife and other weapons offences. |
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| Investigation | Working with victims and witnesses | Additional links added to the 'Further information' section at the bottom of the page. This is in response to a recommendation from the Nicola Bulley enquiry. The links added are:
Family liaison strategy templates:
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| Professional standards | Vetting | Section 1 1.4 – Addition of The Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 (PVR)
Section 2 No changes
Section 3 3.1.1 – Addition of term ‘vetting authority’ 3.3.6.a – Removal of term ‘flagstone intelligence marker’ 3.4 – Clarification of role of FVM as vetting authority 3.4.2 – Addition of PVR 3.4.2 – Addition of bullet point ‘Ensure that clearances are terminated when they expire, are no longer required or withdrawn.’ 3.4.2 – Addition of bullet point ‘Consider adopting the additional recommended templates and guidance that accompany this APP, available from the College of Policing.’ 3.8.2 – Addition of PVR or any contract of employment 3.10.4 – Addition of ‘If a new vetting applicant is currently under investigation for an offence, including being on police bail, their vetting application will be discontinued. A new vetting application may be submitted once the matter is finalised.’
Section 4 No changes
Section 5 5.3.3.a – Removal of ‘only’ 5.5.1.c – Removal of appeals information for chief constables 5.5.4.c – Addition of ‘to such a department’
Section 6 6.2.2 – Addition of two bullet points: A record of withdrawal assessments, including the decision on the outcome and the finding in any appeal. A record of police personnel who have resigned or retired prior to the conclusion of any withdrawal assessment procedure 6.3.1 – Amendment of ‘harm-test’ for disclosure 6.5.2.c – Removal of term ‘flagstone intelligence marker’. Addition of ‘or vetting’. 6.5.2.f – Addition of ‘The PND Data Upload Status document is available on the bulletin board on PND and in the ‘Police National Database (PND)’ Group on Knowledge Hub (login required).’ 6.5.17.b – Addition of ‘which could impact suitability for vetting clearance or role’ 6.5.9.a – Addition of ‘served’
Section 7 7.1.5 – Addition of Where adverse information may reasonably lead to vetting clearance being withdrawn, a withdrawal assessment procedure should commence – see 9.13. 7.2.2.a – Addition of RV to RV as a role move for police staff to police officer 7.2.2.b – Addition of ‘the option to complete a full vetting review or a new vetting application’ 7.3.7 – Addition of ‘may lead to a withdrawal assessment’. Deletion of ‘declined’ 7.4.2.a – Amendment of ‘these circumstances’ to ‘cases of changes in employment group’ 7.4.3.a – Deletion of ‘contractual’ 7.4.3.b – Deletion of ‘contractual’ 7.5.2.c – Amendment of ‘and withdrawal’ to ‘or review’ 7.7.6 – Addition of ‘For the purpose of mutual aid, forces will accept the parent force’s vetting clearance unless a higher level of vetting is absolutely necessary to perform the role required.’
Section 8 8.5.3.a – Addition of bullet point ‘Previous decline or withdrawal of police vetting clearance.’ 8.5.6 – Vetting interviews section amended 8.6.4 – Amendment of Police (Performance) Regulations to PVR 8.6.4.c – Amendment of Police (Performance) Regulations to PVR 8.6.5.a – Addition of PVR 8.7.2.f – Addition of ‘on renewal’
Section 9 9.2 – Amendment of wording to ‘decline or withdraw’ 9.3 – Addition of on renewal and amendment of declining to withdrawing 9.8.3 – Addition of ‘where the vetting applicant’s circumstances have changed or where any risk has been sufficiently reduced or can be mitigated.’ 9.10.2 – Addition of ‘abide by’ 9.12 – Suspension section rewritten 9.13 – Declining and withdrawing clearance for existing internal police personnel section rewritten 9.14.7 – Addition of or withdrawal 9.15.4 – Removal of harm test 9.15.6 – Removal of link to Appendix S
Section 10 Vetting appeals section rewritten to comply with PVR and give guidance for police staff and other applicants appeal processes
Section 11 11.4 – Addition of ‘A new vetting application for the associated level of police vetting will be required prior to applying for NSV clearance, unless the police vetting was granted in the previous 12 months and the vetting applicant’s circumstances have not changed.’
Appendix A National vetting data framework 1. Addition of shared clearance in application terminology table 2. Addition of shared clearance in vetting outcomes list 3. Amendment to renewal description for accuracy 4. Updated references where required
Appendix B Annual integrity and vetting review Amendment of wording in Workplace Relationships section to mirror Workplace Relationships Guidance
Appendix C PND flagstone intelligence marker text template for adverse recruitment information Change title to PND intelligence report text template for adverse recruitment or vetting information
Appendix D No change
Appendix E No change
Appendix F Transferee vetting – intelligence disclosure good practice advice for forces Change title to ‘Sensitive intelligence – good practice advice for forces
Appendix G No change
Appendix H No change
Appendix I Police vetting form questions and guidance In ‘Investigations’ pop up guidance – amendment to how an application is dealt with if there is an ongoing investigation
Appendix J No change
Appendix K Vetting decision record form Addition of The Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 in powers and policy section Removal of withdrawal as an option.
Appendix L Police vetting appeal panel memorandum of understanding Removed from APP.
Appendix M Aide-memoire for vetting decision making Updated references where required
Appendix N Common vetting risk categories 3.4 addition of wording ‘and the rationale is fully documented’ 5.1 addition of wording ‘where they have revealed a current or previous relevant profession’ 6.4.2 Addition of information and links for further guidance on disclosure 8 Amendment to position re barred list and NPPV clearances
Appendix O Conducting vetting interviews Appendix O becomes Appendix L Amendments required to make clear the difference between a vetting interview (now called exploratory vetting interviews’) and those taking place under PVR/police staff withdrawal process Amendment re providing a rationale only in the case of decline and on request as was original intention Addition of providing a copy of notes on request as per 2021 APP
Appendix P Rehabilitation of Offenders Act guidance for decision makers Appendix P becomes Appendix O
Appendix Q Dismissal process This has been removed as it is no longer required due to PVR
Appendix R Sample financial scoring sheet Appendix R becomes Appendix P
Appendix S Sample letter of declined vetting This has been removed. Due to PVR, separate templates will need to be created for different vetting applicant types and will be provided outside of the Vetting APP.
Appendix T Sample vetting appeal form Due to PVR, separate templates will need to be created for different vetting applicant types and will be provided outside of the Vetting APP.
Appendix U Glossary Appendix U becomes Appendix Q Additional clarification of focused vetting review definition Amendment of vetting suspended definition Addition of vetting terminated definition |
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| Roads policing | Police driving | 8/5/25 - changes made to the driver training unit section. This includes:
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| Investigation | Investigation process | Updated link 'Dealing with sudden unexpected death' |