National Vetting Symposium 2026: Protecting the roots in shifting ground – Transitioning good practice whilst embracing change
In-person
1st Jun 2026 to 2nd Jun 2026
1-2 June, Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon
UK policing is moving through one of the most significant periods of reform in police vetting for a generation, and whilst there has been sustained progress to improve and professionalise in recent years, there is more to do. The implications of the R (Di Maria) v Metropolitan Police Commissioner ruling, the introduction of the new Police (Vetting) Regulations, and the forthcoming amendments, which place police vetting standards into legislation, represent a major shift in the legal and operational framework that underpins how forces assess integrity, risk, and suitability to serve.
This period of change creates both pressure and opportunity. As policing adapts to new legal expectations and national consistency, it is vital that the service does not lose sight of the professional judgement, ethical foundations, and examples of positive practice that already exist across vetting units. Reform should strengthen these roots, not replace them.
The symposium will explore how to create a comprehensive and resilient vetting model, which can be delivered consistently across differing forces; one that protects what works, whilst harnessing innovation and understanding the demands and expectations of modern policing. It will bring together vetting professionals and key stakeholders to examine the current and future impacts upon vetting practice and consider how opportunities such as emerging technology and data capability can support better decision making, improve efficiency, and strengthen risk identification.
The focus is not change for its own sake, but responsible transformation for the short and long term.