What is Security Clearance?
Personnel security vetting is carried out so that people can work or carry out tasks, which in the course of doing so requires national security clearance. Government organisations including the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces require Security Cleared personnel as well as companies in the private sector contracted to undertake work for these bodies. Clearance levels vary depending upon the sensitivity of the information that is accessed and come in the following Levels.
National Security Checks:
DV / Developed Vetting
SC / Security Check
CTC / Counter Terrorist Check
EBC / Enhanced Basic Checks
BC / Basic Checks
ECRB / Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau
CRB / Criminal Records Bureau
Why is the vetting system necessary and what does it aim to achieve?
The UK needs a security system to protect against threats from hostile intelligence services and terrorist and other pressure groups. Vetting tries to make sure that anyone who goes through the process can be trusted with sensitive government information or property.
Who is affected?
The system applies to people in the following categories whose employment involves access to sensitive Government assets:-
Crown servants; members of the security and intelligence agencies; members of the armed forces; the police; employees of certain other non-government organisations that are obliged to comply with the Government’s security procedures; employees of contractors providing goods and services to the Government.
How to obtain Security Clearance
You cannot apply for Security Clearance as an individual. Clearance is requested by an employer and carried out by Government agencies. Security Clearance is granted for a specific period of time depending on the employment term or for a particular project.
You do not have to be a British National in order to gain Security Clearance, but you will have to meet certain criteria depending on the level of clearance required.
The Defence Vetting Agency (DVA) is the largest government organisation carrying out national security checks on people, and actions around 140,000 checks and clearances each year.
The DVA’s task is to carry out national security checks, through a process called"vetting". It vets people in the Armed Services the MOD civil service, defence contractors, and certain other government departments and organisations, as well a companies in the private sector.
The DVA check that people are suitable to hold security clearances in order to allow them access to government installations, valuable assets, and sensitive information.
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