PSC Joint Circular 143 – PSC Notifiable Associations Policy

College of Policing Vetting APP (May 2025) pages 144-145 

"Notifiable associations

"All notifiable associations must be declared in accordance with the [insert local options here]. 

"If you know, consider or suspect that you may have a personal association with an individual, group or organisation, which is or may be notifiable due to the relationship creating a potential conflict of interest, you must report the matter to the counter corruption unit. They will be responsible for recording the association and conducting an appropriate risk assessment to safeguard you and your family. This includes associates with previous arrests or criminal convictions, those involved in tendering or bidding for police contracts, journalists, solicitors, private investigators and officers or staff members previously dismissed from the police service. This list is not exhaustive, and you should discuss with PSD if you are unsure whether a relationship may create a conflict of interest. The onus is on you to report any change of circumstances about the association so the matter can be reviewed.

Membership of organisations whose aims and objectives may contradict the duty of the force to promote "racial, religious and social equality is incompatible with holding police vetting clearance. This includes active engagement to casual association via social media, such as ‘following’ or subscribing to an individual or group, or commenting, sharing and ‘liking’ online posts. 

"Examples of such organisations include National Action, Britain First, DAESH, Al Muhajiroun (ALM). This is not an exhaustive list and if you are unsure, please contact [insert force Counter Terrorism Security Advisor (CTSA)] in the first instance. Refer to local policies in relation to: 

• notifiable associations [insert local options here]
• service confidence [insert local options here]
• proscribed terrorist groups or organisations [insert local options here]
• Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations - GOV.UK

"Membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation or group is a criminal offence, therefore current membership or any previous membership of such organisations has a rebuttable presumption that vetting clearance will be declined. Membership of any extremist group or association that has aims and objectives that are contrary to the Code of Ethics and standards of professional behaviour will ordinarily result in vetting clearance being declined.

"Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations - GOV.UK 
List of terrorist groups or organisations banned under UK law, and details of proscription criteria."