UK Security Clearance Has anyone done it?

soupforbrains · 2021-08-11T09:26:03+00:00

Hi all, Has anyone on here gained UK security clearance for work? I have just been offered a new job which is great package and I'll be accepting it. Once I've started I have to get UK Security Clearance. They told me about this before my final interview because as they said it can be 'intrusive'. I've no skeletons in closets to worry about but I'd like to know more about the process and what it entails. My dad went through it decades ago and at that time it was very intrusive and my mum was under surveillance for weeks. (This was in the peak of the 'troubles', dad is English and CofE, he married a catholic Irishwoman from Belfast) Has anyone on here gone through the process recently and can give me an idea of what to expect?

MrsOnions0 · 11/08/2021 15:54

Hi

I’ve got CTC vetting. There’s numerous different vetting levels and dependant on the level can determine how “intrusive” the checks can be.

This gives a good overview www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant

CTC is one of the lower ranks of vetting and as such there were questions (online via form) about family members, known associates (people I’d lived with), history of addresses and those of family. Financial questions and then obviously ones about affiliations with certain terrorist organisations and/or knowing of anyone related or associated to you having associations etc. You’ll also need to include individuals who can act as character references. I’m not sure mine were contacted. I didn't have an interview. I didn't find it particularly intrusive but as someone who’s moved a lot it was quite hard to remember dates and addresses.

It can take quite a while to come back and unfortunately certain organisations don’t “talk” with each other and you may have to do multiple checks is working in different locations/sites I.e MOJ and HMPPS

Hoppinggreen · 11/08/2021 19:19

DH did it. I helped him fill in the forms, it was fine.
We did fudge around his Mums ex though as she had been with him for 10 years but had left him a few months before and we didn’t want to contact him for info. We did have to put info about my Mums partner and also my brother (who is pretty dodgy).
One of DHs friends had getting to work at GCSQ and that took a long time and I think even looked into his sexual preferences! DH was interviewed as a personal reference for him and he said it was quite intense

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 11/08/2021 22:42

They will ask questions about finance and do a credit check. Family details. Any criminal activities with close family. Anything that might make you vulnerable blackmail.

Original poster

soupforbrains · 11/08/2021 23:20

Thanks all. It seems to vary a lot depending on what ‘level’ of clearance it is for. I don’t know the details of that yet so I guess I’ll wait until I know the level and check out the website.

I do know one person who went through it and they interviewed his best friend and asked what sort of porn he watched. Frankly I think the researchers will find me sadly boring!

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EasterIssland · 11/08/2021 23:23

I submitted mine yesterday. Pain to remember what year was a credit card rejected … I knew I had one just not when so I put a year number I thought it was (they ask you finance in last 10 years)

AnnaSW1 · 11/08/2021 23:41

I didn't find it particularly obtrusive. The main issue was how long it took

Hoppinggreen · 12/08/2021 08:15

@soupforbrains

Thanks all. It seems to vary a lot depending on what ‘level’ of clearance it is for. I don’t know the details of that yet so I guess I’ll wait until I know the level and check out the website.

I do know one person who went through it and they interviewed his best friend and asked what sort of porn he watched. Frankly I think the researchers will find me sadly boring!

DH was asked if his friend who was going through clearance was into “Bestiality or similar” I suppose it’s to see if there is any possibility for blackmail

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 12/08/2021 08:18

When dh did it years ago, the police came to the house to talk to me but i don't remember what they asked!

Eve · 12/08/2021 08:23

Depending on level can take a long time - over 12 months in some cases.

TheGenealogist · 12/08/2021 08:29

DH has clearance for work, he works in a building/industry which has been identified as a high terrorism risk. (Sort of like a nuclear power plant, but not).

They do similar to a DBS check to look at criminal records, a credit check to make sure you're not in over your head and vulnerable to being bribed, and they look at close family, people you live with, and close friends. He has worked in these sorts of jobs for ages, and I've never had the police visit!

They will ask about your personal life, whether you're gay or into weird stuff sexually - as a PP said it's about whether blackmail is a possibility. If you're openly gay or whatever - not an issue.

Also the vetting will of course vary depending on the seniority of the position and the level of access to sensitive info.

Lots of detail here:
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/united-kingdom-security-vetting

FasterthanBolt · 12/08/2021 08:36

I used to work at GCHQ and it took about 5 months (iirc) for my full check to be completed, it was a high-level one though. There were some in-depth questions about my father who used to be quite a prolific left wing campaigner so that was quite tricky but the rest was ok. They did interview dh and my parents face to face, I'm trying to think what else they asked!

C8H10N4O2 · 12/08/2021 08:44

Which level of clearance do you need? I'm cleared up to quite a high level but not full eDV as I don't need it for work.

The majority of roles don't go beyond SC which is basically filling in a form with details of you, partner, parents, residences etc and then waiting forever for the vetting system to process it.

Also its not the same process uniformly or centrally managed. If you need SC level and then go to a different job requiring SC the transfer process is basically a repeat as every organisation does its own thing.

DV is more intrusive - that requires the interviews with referees. On the whole they want to be sure they know the risks rather than eliminate people on grounds of risk. ie they care less about your affairs and trips to the dominatrix than the fact that they know about them so you are unlikely to be coerced into breaches by use of the knowledge against you.

AnneElliott · 12/08/2021 09:51

As PP have said it's DV that's the intrusive one where they interview friends and family. I don't have that but I was interviewed for my friend who needed that for her role. It was fine but just took a long time and yes they ask about sex life etc.

The main issue is the length of time that it takes for it to come through.

couchparsnip · 12/08/2021 10:05

DH has high level clearance and yes initially they did follow him around and he had to have an intrusive interview plus interviews for friends and family. When we started seeing each other they wanted to know all my family's names and addresses too. They basically wanted to check if he could be influenced or blackmailed I suppose.
He can't talk about what he does either which is strange. We have conversations about people he works with but never the work!

couchparsnip · 12/08/2021 10:08

In terms of details they'll want your full financial history and sexual partners. If you're gay you have to have come out to everyone. No secrets allowed.

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 12/08/2021 10:11

@couchparsnip

DH has high level clearance and yes initially they did follow him around and he had to have an intrusive interview plus interviews for friends and family. When we started seeing each other they wanted to know all my family's names and addresses too. They basically wanted to check if he could be influenced or blackmailed I suppose. He can't talk about what he does either which is strange. We have conversations about people he works with but never the work!

Yes! Dh did that job 25 years ago and i still don't know what it was

TwoBlondes · 12/08/2021 10:16

I was responsible for SC in a previous job. Very straightforward in most cases and it was great fun for a nosy person like me! Quite a few financial questions as well as convictions. Some people had difficulty with questions about parents they'd never known. Took months to get clearance.

purplesequins · 12/08/2021 10:18

depends on the company doing the check and the level of clearance.

mine took about 3 weeks 15 years ago. However interim checks can be just as intrusive (be sure that you get an invoice or receipt for your cleaner/window cleaner/handywoman etc)

Bells3032 · 12/08/2021 10:21

There are four main levels of security clearance

Basic check - equivalent to a DBS check just checking you don't have any criminal convictions
CTC check - as above but with a check on links to extremist groups
SC check - as above but with additional of financial background check and some information on immediate family
DV check - highest level. involved 3 references plus work reference and yourself being interviewed, must be willing to answer questions about any subject area you may be blackmailed about inc your sex life, finances, internet uses etc and background checks done on family members.

Never heard of anyone being followed for them though....

eurochick · 12/08/2021 10:29

I've been a referee for a friend who needed clearance for a job. This man like a human lie detector came and interviewed me. He was pretty terrifying - lots of unblinking eye contact. He asked about sexual exploits, drugs, drink, gambling, etc.

Franklin12 · 12/08/2021 10:35

I had SC clearance in a previous role. DV is the one some people actually refuse to undertake.

The SC clearance which lasts 10 years for me in the same company is a good qualification to have. it lets you work on government contracts and at interviews if there is someone who has already passed and someone who hasnt - well I wonder who ends up getting the role?

Also in my new role which is completely different one of the directors seems to think I was some sort of spy!

Original poster

soupforbrains · 12/08/2021 12:12

@Bells3032

There are four main levels of security clearance

Basic check - equivalent to a DBS check just checking you don't have any criminal convictions
CTC check - as above but with a check on links to extremist groups
SC check - as above but with additional of financial background check and some information on immediate family
DV check - highest level. involved 3 references plus work reference and yourself being interviewed, must be willing to answer questions about any subject area you may be blackmailed about inc your sex life, finances, internet uses etc and background checks done on family members.

Never heard of anyone being followed for them though....

I suspect the following/observation was a product of the time (70s) since nowadays they can gather a vast amount of information on a person electronically/remotely.

Thank you for clarifying the levels, I have already had to have a Basic check prior to the contract being issued once I am in role I believe it will be either SC or DV but i do not know which level.

I don't have any major secrets, or any concerns about them finding anything in finances, criminal checks etc.

Although thinking about it...

I am a single parent. My son's biological father did not want to be involved. I gave him an all or nothing type offer (long story, not as simple as that etc. etc. ) but essentially he has never paid a penny, doesn't even know the DOB or sex of child.

I have never told anyone else in my life the identity of my son's father, because when my son if ready, if he asks I will tell him in the right way and I didn't want anyone else to be able to spring that on him. Would the Security clearance check demand that I tell my son that information now? or that I tell other people that?

it's the only secret i have.

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Original poster

soupforbrains · 12/08/2021 12:14

one of the directors seems to think i was some sort of spy

I suppose thats a bonus.... haha

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fairgroundsnack · 12/08/2021 12:21

My DH is DV cleared. It was a bit painful getting it done just given the level of info they needed (questions re ‘deviant sexual practices’ were involved!) but the impression I got was that they just wanted to know you had told them everything. I think they would want to know the identity of your son’s dad, even if you didn’t tell your son now. They just want to know there’s no potential for blackmail.

MaliceOrgan · 12/08/2021 12:34

With DV, they don't interview random people about you. You give them a list of friends & family who they choose from. I was worried about them approaching a couple of friends (one who is a massive conspiracy theorist and anarchist and a couple of unpredictable fantastics) but that's not how it works

@Franklin12 I am not convinced that clearance is considered a 'qualification'