The PSNI has advised that they are currently unable to provide accurate figures for vetting requests received prior to February 2007, due to technical difficulties. The PSNI is working to rectify this, and I have asked the Chief Constable to keep me updated on progress.
A total of 80,119 applications were received between February and August 2007. The fall annual total is expected to be approximately 150,000. The following table gives a breakdown by category.
Presently the PSNI vetting section has 10 staff. In 2007-08 the work is expected to cost £184,000 excluding overheads.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland aims to turnaround 90 per cent. of vetting applications within 15 working days. This target has been met in previous years, but due to the technical difficulty noted above, is not being met at present. Additional resources have been dedicated to improving this performance, and progress towards the target is being monitored.
Source February March April May June July August Compensation Agency—Pink 4 2 1 6 9 0 0 Compensation Agency—White 973 451 894 385 0 587 550 Compensation Agency—Faxes 18 22 43 29 0 24 0 Education 6,383 3,125 2,090 1,479 1,396 2,332 3,034 Child Care—Statutory Bodies 2,447 1,680 1,147 930 1,219 1,498 — Child Care Unit—Voluntary 3,294 2,747 3,272 3,153 2,039 2,514 4,379 Student Placements 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Police Ombudsman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Public Service Vehicles 1,215 1,274 1,012 1,011 1,127 624 940 Disclosure Scotland 215 252 217 247 236 424 0 Other Police Forces 191 190 93 204 0 0 0 Pre-Employment Consultancy Service 590 798 801 789 1,031 770 295 Training Schools 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Probation Service—Child Access 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Firearms 5 2 0 4 0 1 1 Force Alarms 45 46 48 43 49 80 70 PNC Checks 55 40 53 33 30 26 0 Probation Checks 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 City Airport 99 91 85 95 184 81 27 International Airport 286 298 149 279 317 208 0 Door Supervisors 82 51 44 39 43 9 0 Social Care Council 576 366 256 72 51 121 512 Street Traders 2 10 6 12 6 0 0 Community Affairs—Voluntary Sector 10 20 3 11 12 12 5 Garda/Interpol 0 0 0 0 152 225 0 Housing Executive 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bombardier 12 18 11 27 10 56 34 NI Electricity 0 40 7 43 16 15 10 Ranstad 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Civil Service 811 380 485 711 418 140 372 Civil Service Contracts 0 206 181 345 284 152 0 NI Assembly 58 102 53 115 52 48 22 NI Court Service 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 PNC—recruiting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PNC—NI Security Branch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Water Service 0 0 10 109 123 80 48 Legal Services 0 0 12 4 14 3 0 Environment and Heritage 0 0 7 2 6 3 0 Youth Justice Agency 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 Fire Brigade 0 0 0 7 8 4 0 Others 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 Child Access 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Subject Access 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CRB 0 0 762 0 0 0 0 Total 17,420 12,211 11,742 10,184 8,837 9,426 10,299 Total in period 80,119