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AIBU?

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Original poster

Failed Vetting Process - but SAR denied

100 replies

NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 13:51

Hello Wise M’Netters

Name change for this, and prob not an AIBU but posting here for traffic in the hopes that some wise person may be able to help.

Backstory:

DIL (22) was born to a white British mum, and Muslim (Pakistan) Father. Relationship between her parents was a secret (they met at 16 and fell in love). He father was sent away to be married early 20’s. When he returned to the UK they continued their secret relationship, and DIL was born. None of his family know about her existence and her relationship with her Father has been sporadic and strained throughout her life. He became a successful Business man and has provided for DIL and her mother since she was born (house, cars, money etc).
Father has been in trouble with the police on occasion, but minor reasons were given and we don’t know the full truth about what these are (This could be relevant)

DIL sees her father occasionally. They don’t have a close relationship, and she tolerates him for the sake of her mother (who is still madly in love with him)
Fast Forward to 2022 and DIL applied to the police force. Passed interviews, medicals, and everything needed. She then had to submit the details for the vetting process. She was unsure whether to put her Father on there as on paper he is nothing to her. He’s not on her Birth Certificate and she has her mothers name. The only real link between them is money he sends her occasionally.
I advised that she should still name him as her Father. She did.

Once submitted, she got a couple of calls from the Police Force asking her to clarify various bits about her relationship with him, which she did with complete honesty.

After a few weeks she was told that he had failed the vetting process. This came as a shock as she has never been in trouble with the police, nor has her mum, her credit is great and she’s not even gotten a parking ticket.~

The letter said she could appeal and also request a SAR – which would give the details as to why she failed. So we sent the request for the SAR and the appeal.
We heard back from the SAR after 3 weeks – they said they can’t give her any further information and won’t tell her why she failed the vetting.

The appeal took much longer (was meant to be 21 days) in total she waited almost 3 months.
The result of the appeal is that they are upholding their decision. It also states that they can’t tell her why due to Data Protection.

She is naturally devastated. She doesn’t understand why, and no one can (or will) tell her why. The only thing we can think of is that it’s something to do with her Father. But if so, how can they punish her for his mistakes/dealings? She explained at length to them the extent of their relationship, that she’s a secret from his family, that she resents him for this, that she speaks to him very occasionally.

Does anyone have any ideas on what we can do (if we even can) now? This poor girl has done nothing to deserve this, she’s worked so hard to get into the Police and now she’s been rejected for something which isn’t her fault.

OP posts:
ToBeOrNotToBee · 14/12/2022 13:54

It's because she receives money/gifts from him and is a bribery/corruption risk.

He's obviously linked to some serious offending.

She needs to cut all ties with him and her mother if she wants to pass vetting and remain estranged throughout her policing career.

AnotherAppleThief · 14/12/2022 13:54

Probably a mistake naming her father, they probably can't tell her as it's not her details/past that are the problem.

Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 13:57

ToBeOrNotToBee · 14/12/2022 13:54

It's because she receives money/gifts from him and is a bribery/corruption risk.

He's obviously linked to some serious offending.

She needs to cut all ties with him and her mother if she wants to pass vetting and remain estranged throughout her policing career.

That's an interesting thought. I'd never considered that before, neither had she.
Whilst she could cut all ties with him - she lives with her mum (in a house owned by her Father) so that wouldn't be an option sadly.

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 13:58

AnotherAppleThief · 14/12/2022 13:54

Probably a mistake naming her father, they probably can't tell her as it's not her details/past that are the problem.

It was a tough call. But she didn't want to lie or omit important information which could later on bite her in the arse if it was uncovered.
I think she did the right thing by naming him, as he is her biological Father.

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 14/12/2022 14:00

We heard back from the SAR after 3 weeks – they said they can’t give her any further information and won’t tell her why she failed the vetting.

If they won't tell you, it could be because it concerns National Security.

RoseBucket · 14/12/2022 14:00

Bribery risk?? It’s his job to provide for his daughter.

Blenheimprincess · 14/12/2022 14:04

I suspect there's something very dodgy in the father's background and she's therefore considered a security risk. She may never know the reason though and they're unlikely to tell her.

IamThegreaterMole · 14/12/2022 14:04

I don’t think they will like that she is a secret, possible blackmail risk.

Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:05

SinnerBoy · 14/12/2022 14:00

We heard back from the SAR after 3 weeks – they said they can’t give her any further information and won’t tell her why she failed the vetting.

If they won't tell you, it could be because it concerns National Security.

I thought that also. Which she understands to a point. But at least tell the poor girl it's not her, she hasn't done anything wrong. And it still doesn't feel right that she should be punished for him being her father when he's never played an active role in her life.

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:07

IamThegreaterMole · 14/12/2022 14:04

I don’t think they will like that she is a secret, possible blackmail risk.

She wouldn't care if it came out in public that he was her father. It's him who has to keep it secret as he has a wife and children (and a 'traditional Muslim family')

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 14/12/2022 14:07

Yes, I understand entirely how she feels. You said he's a businessman, he could simply have had some dealings with someone on a watch list, you'll never know. It does seem desperately unfair.

ToBeOrNotToBee · 14/12/2022 14:08

NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:05

I thought that also. Which she understands to a point. But at least tell the poor girl it's not her, she hasn't done anything wrong. And it still doesn't feel right that she should be punished for him being her father when he's never played an active role in her life.

Show quote history

The things is, he has played an active part in her life. She lives in a house paid for (and I'm reading between the lines here) a house paid for by a career criminal with money gained from said criminal activities (just a guess). That's not OK for any officer let alone a new recruit.

Hankunamatata · 14/12/2022 14:12

Even if she hadn't named him. He pays for the house she lives in and he gives her money. They would have found the connection.

lljkk · 14/12/2022 14:12

That sounds like national security vetting threshold (the middle one that is more than routine civil service but less than top secret level) which I didn't think police routinely had.

She could take her story to a journalist who would figure out all the answers, or a PI. But she might not like the answer(s).

Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:12

The things is, he has played an active part in her life. She lives in a house paid for (and I'm reading between the lines here) a house paid for by a career criminal with money gained from said criminal activities (just a guess). That's not OK for any officer let alone a new recruit.

She doesn't know the ins and outs of his true business dealings. On paper he has numerous properties, and a successful taxi company.
He was in court not long ago, but his story was that was for Fly Tipping - and wasn't his fault anyway. He's never admitted to anything illegal in his business. My Dad is a retired officer, and he thinks it's obviously to do with the Father also, and the fact he makes frequent visits to Pakistan won't look good either.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 14/12/2022 14:12

Blenheimprincess · 14/12/2022 14:04

I suspect there's something very dodgy in the father's background and she's therefore considered a security risk. She may never know the reason though and they're unlikely to tell her.

If this is it, looking at it from the Police's point of view, she could be colluding with him to become an insider, to get information or gain advantage for him.

Serious criminals play the long game. They know how much an advantage having someone on the inside would be to them, even if it takes years for them to get into a position where they will be useful.

Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:15

The general consensus here is that it's do with her Father (which we all suspected anyway).
Does she have any recourse? Is there anything she can do to get answers?

OP posts:
MRex · 14/12/2022 14:18

The father is paying for the house, so she is directly benefiting financially from whatever he's up to. Court records aren't generally secret, she might find info here:
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/courts-of-law-records-held-in-other-archives/.

If he's a national security risk then that's a different matter. She would have to prove she and the mother have broken ties with him if she wants to proceed. It's hard from her perspective, but if the justice system matters to get then hopefully she can see for herself why someone in her position presents a risk.

FictionalCharacter · 14/12/2022 14:20

It’s very harsh that her career is affected by this. But there must be something about her father that raised concerns - crime, dodgy finances, close links to people of concern.
Living in a house that’s owned by him is much more of a connection than your OP - you said he “sends her money occasionally”. To live in a house that’s actually his, not just that he paid for, is a different matter. Does she know what he does for a living? What exactly are his successful businesses?
I know this is beside the point but if she’s your DIL why is she living with her mum? Or is she your son’s girlfriend, not married to him?

WatchoRulo · 14/12/2022 14:22

NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:15

The general consensus here is that it's do with her Father (which we all suspected anyway).
Does she have any recourse? Is there anything she can do to get answers?

I'm sorry and I know it seems unfair, but I think this just shows the process is working properly.
Even if she's entirely blameless, a family connection to someone known to the authorities for crime can't be ignored.
It is unfortunate, but I think DIL will have to consider a different career.
It's possible of course that the authorities have knowledge of other matters for which he's strongly suspected but not convicted, too.

EcafTnuc · 14/12/2022 14:23

They’ve done the right thing. She lives off a man who is paying for everything with dirty money. Her mother is still hopelessly in love with him, she is emotionally and actively connected to him regardless of how much she protests. It’s not about punishing her, it’s about following protocol and putting security over someone’s feelings. She’s tried to get answers and they’ve explained as much as possible. I’m not sure what else there is too do except try and move on, get therapy etc.

Or completely cut ties, move out, never accept money from him, cut off her mum forever etc. But even then… it might not be enough depending on how much of a criminal this guy is.

name78change · 14/12/2022 14:24

Remember vetting isn't just about protecting assets/the public, it's to protect the person (and their close contacts) trying to get the vetting. It could be that her getting that position could have left her vulnerable due to her father's potential influence (or whatever influence they potentially found, you won't know what intelligence was uncovered, may be nothing to do with hi ). It's incredibly frustrating but there will be sound reasons information wasn't disclosed (you can ask for it to be reviewed and complain if you want to thoroughly challenge their basis for holding back information- she is well within her rights to do so).

lljkk · 14/12/2022 14:25

Does it have to be her dad? What about half siblings or other relatives on her dad's side? Did applicant declare all of them?

Could be criminal not national security related.

Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:29

name78change · 14/12/2022 14:24

Remember vetting isn't just about protecting assets/the public, it's to protect the person (and their close contacts) trying to get the vetting. It could be that her getting that position could have left her vulnerable due to her father's potential influence (or whatever influence they potentially found, you won't know what intelligence was uncovered, may be nothing to do with hi ). It's incredibly frustrating but there will be sound reasons information wasn't disclosed (you can ask for it to be reviewed and complain if you want to thoroughly challenge their basis for holding back information- she is well within her rights to do so).

If she was to ask for it be reviewed and challenge their basis, who would she do that with?

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChangePoP · 14/12/2022 14:30

lljkk · 14/12/2022 14:25

Does it have to be her dad? What about half siblings or other relatives on her dad's side? Did applicant declare all of them?

Could be criminal not national security related.

She knows she has half siblings but doesn't know their names, so couldn't name them. She also didn't know her Fathers address and had to explain why she only knew his name and DOB. She gave the town he was living in but that's all she had.

OP posts: